By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has summoned the registered owner of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) whose driver was seen in a viral video making a dirty hand gesture on a fellow motorist.
LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said that the registered owner was already issued with a show cause order (SCO) that will pave the way to establish whether or not he was the one driving the car at the time of the incident.
The registered owner is from Quezon City and it is not immediately clear if he is the one in the viral video engaged in a road rage.
In the video that went viral on Facebook, the vehicle was seen counter-flowing on a solid double yellow lane.
The driver of the SUV then got mad after a motorist appeared to have blocked his path.
The driver was then seen angrily confronting the motorists before making a bad hand gesture.
The SUV driver even threatened to alight the vehicle to confront the motorist.
Asec. Mendoza said that LTO investigators were able to identify the owner after the license plate was seen in the viral video.
“Verification from the LTO database disclosed that the motor vehicle was last registered on February 22, 2022, and has since not been renewed in violation of the compulsory registration requirement under Section 5 of Republic Act No. 4136,” Mendoza said.
In the SCO signed by LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division chief Renante Melitante, the registered owner was asked to explain why he should not be punished for having expired registration, as well as reckless driving, disregarding traffic signs, obstruction of traffic and being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.
Melitante said that they already placed the SUV, a Mitsubishi Montero with Plate No. NFG9505 under alarm.
Once the identity of the driver is established, Mendoza said that the driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days. ###
