THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) revoked the non-professional driver’s license of the owner of a white SUV (sports utility vehicle) involved in a traffic incident on June 5, 2022.

Transportation Assistant Secretary and LTO Chief Edgar Galvante issued the revocation order after the registered owner Jose Antonio San Vicente, ignored two show cause orders (SCO) by the agency, and failed to appear before the investigation body directed by the LTO.

San Vicente is “perpetually disqualified” from securing a driver’s license and driving a motor vehicle.

The same order said Sanvicente is found guilty of violations of Reckless Driving (Sec. 28 of Republic Act 4136) and Sec. 55 of RA 4136 (Duty of driver in case of Accident).

Under the existing Traffic Law, the accused is sanctioned with a fine of P10,000 for 3rd offense of reckless driving.

San Vicente is directed to surrender his driver’s license “immediately” to the LTO-Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID), and failure to surrender shall result in the impounding of any motor vehicle driven by him.

On June 5, 2022, a white SUV was involved in a traffic incident by hitting and running over a security guard while manning traffic.

Reportedly caught by the CCTV (closed-circuit television), the SUV sped off and escaped instead of helping the injured security guard, identified as Christian Joseph Floralde.

As of this moment, nobody could tell the whereabouts of the driver.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Officer-in-Charge (PNP-OIC) Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr. on Monday urged the driver of the said SUV involved in a hit-and-run incident in Mandaluyong City to surrender and face the charges against him since he has to “pay” for his crime regardless of his supposed high connections.

According to the top cop, the owner of the SUV who fled after injuring a security guard also had a previous case of reckless imprudence while driving, prompting him to call on the LTO to revoke the license of the accused so that he would not be a “danger” to more pedestrians and motorists in the future.

“Yes, meron na itong the same case, okay take note, this is not the first time he has a case of reckless imprudence. So meron na ‘to pala, according sa LTO,” the PNP-OIC told a Camp Crame press briefing.

“So request ko lang sa ating mga LTO, dapat no’ng una pa lang, sinuspende na ‘yong kanyang lisensiya. Itong pangalawa dapat hindi lang suspendihin, ‘di ba, dapat ito i-revoke ang kanyang lisensiya. Why? Driver’s license is only a privilege, it is not our right, kahit ako. If you abuse it, definitely it should be revoked,” he explained.

He also asked if the driver was into illegal drug use since he fled the scene after hitting the security guard and running over him again.

“Unfortunately, the owner, take note, the owner of the vehicle refused to surrender. So the possibility is, guilty ka, bakit ayaw mong sumurrender? ‘Di ba? Unang-una identified na nga yung may ari, kung hindi man ikaw ang gumagamit ng sasakyan ng panahon na ‘yan, eh dapat you have to defend yourself.”

“Natural courses of a decent man who is in his right senses, will definitely surrender immediately. But, ito ang tanong ninyo, bakit hindi sumusurrender? Eh una ikaw, china-challenge kita Mr. San Vicente. Ayaw mong summurrender, tama, o isa lang ang sasabihin ko sa’yo: baka adik ka, baka gumagamit ka?” he asked.