By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show cause order (SCO) to the registered owner and the driver of the passenger jeepney that figured in a fatal road accident in Quezon City on April 13 (Sunday).

The latter was asked to explain why he should not be penalized for charges of reckless driving (Sec. 48 of R.A. 4136), being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle pursuant to Sec. 27(a) of R.A. 4136. He was also informed that his driver’s license was preventively suspended for 90 days.

On the other hand, the owner of the wrecked passenger jeepney was asked to bring the vehicle to the LTO Central Office in Quezon City for inspection and evaluation, along with its franchise documents.

“We want to have a clear picture of what happened so that appropriate sanctions would be imposed. We will also ask the drivers of the other motor vehicles involved for a statement as well as coordinate with the local police, which is conducting a separate probe,” said LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II.

Initial findings reveal that the incident occurred at around 6:30 a.m. and started when the passenger jeepney hit the rear left portion of a modern jeepney on Commonwealth Avenue, near the corner of Kasunduan Street.

This caused the passenger jeepney to overturn and hit the right-side portion of a sedan, yielding two casualties and causing serious injuries to several other passengers.

Safeguarding the motoring public’s welfare

Meanwhile, Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon directed the LTO to intensify its campaign to ensure the roadworthiness of all motor vehicles, especially concerning public utility vehicles (PUVs).

This was backed by LTO’s top brass, who ordered all regional directors and heads of law enforcement units across the country to amplify the random and surprise inspections of the road worthiness of all PUVs plying their respective locales.

Earlier, the LTO bared its Holy Week road safety plans that include surprise and random inspection of passenger buses in bus terminals, as well as the conduct of random drug tests to drivers and conductors if necessary.

“We will also be coordinating with local government units and other law enforcement agencies for the deployment of our personnel for road assistance, traffic management and law enforcement,” Asec. Mendoza concluded.

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