By Brian Campued
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Saturday directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to permanently revoke the license of the driver of a UV Express Service involved in a road rage incident in Quezon City.
On Friday, the UV Express rammed into 14 vehicles along Commonwealth Avenue—killing one motorist and wounding 13 others.
According to the investigation of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and the LTO, the driver admitted to using illegal drugs the night prior to the incident.
The police report also indicated that he continued to accelerate and repeatedly drove recklessly in an “attempt to evade apprehension.”
The driver, who is in custody of the QCPD, is facing multiple charges, including reckless driving and violations of Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act and the Land Transportation and Traffic Code due to being an “improper person to operate a motor vehicle.”
The LTO previously issued a preventive suspension on the license of the UV Express driver.
Lopez stressed that reckless drivers must not be allowed to ply the road again as they may put commuters and other motorists in danger, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to pursue those who compromise road safety.
“Sisiguraduhin nating hinding-hindi na makakapagmaneho itong UV Express driver na ito,” the DOTr chief said.
“Paulit-ulit [nang] sinasabi ng Pangulo na dapat ligtas ang ating mga kalsada at mga motorista mula sa mga ganitong iresponsable [at] abusadong driver,” he added, expressing his condolences to the family of the dead motorist.
Meanwhile, Lopez directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to assess if the insurance company of the UV Express will be required to pay for damages to the victims.
He also ordered the strict implementation of the Department Order 2025-008, which mandates a comprehensive alcohol and drug testing for all drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs).
The LTFRB, for its part, suspended the operation of the UV Express and already issued a show cause order against the registered owner of the vehicle to explain why the franchise should not be revoked over the ramming incident.
“The owner of this particular unit has a lot of explaining to do because of that incident. We will determine at the course of the investigation why the driver of that UV Express reacted that way which resulted in death and multiple injuries,” LTFRB Chairperson Vigor Mendoza II said in a press release.
-jpv
