THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) has ordered the revocation of the driver’s license of the owner of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) that ran over a security guard near a mall in Mandaluyong City last week.
The LTO said Jose Antonio V. Sanvicente is also perpetually disqualified from securing a driver’s license and driving a motor vehicle.
“Verification through the LTO system disclosed that Respondent Sanvicente has a record of three apprehensions for reckless driving (2010, 2015 and 2016), showing a history of his reckless behavior on the road,” it said in a statement.
“The LTO finds Respondent Sanvicente liable for reckless driving and for violating Section 55 (duty of driver in case of accident) of RA 4136 when he abandoned the scene and the victim. Together with his disregard for the authority of the Land Transportation Office, his acts are considered unacceptable behaviors of a driver. Taken as a whole, his actions are tantamount to the acts of an improper person to operate a motor vehicle pursuant to Section 27 (a) of RA 4136, otherwise known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code,” it added.
The LTO issued its decision after Sanvicente snubbed two show cause orders issued to him by the agency, which gave him the chance to explain.
On June 5, security guard Christian Joseph Floralde was directing traffic behind SM Megamall when a Toyota RAV 4, which he asked to stop, hit him.
Floralde fell into the ground and moments later, the vehicle run over him and fled.
Sanvicente is now facing charges for frustrated murder filed by the Mandaluyong City Police Office.
Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Vicente Danao Jr. earlier urged Sanvicente to heed the calls of the authorities, especially for him to surrender and face the consequences of his actions even before the issuance of an arrest warrant against him.
PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said they are also coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration to know if Sanvicente is still in the country.
“Magandang development itong pagkakasela nga ng driver's license nitong registered owner ng na-involved na SUV at ‘yung ating HPG (Highway Patrol Group) ay balak na rin ipaalarma itong sasakyan na ito para kung ito ay gagamitin at maispatan ay subject for impoundment na rin ito,” she said.
“So lahat ng ating mga PNP na ay nagmamando sa ating mga lansangan ay bibigyan ng order na kung saka-sakaling ma-intercept itong sasakyan na ito, they are authorized to stop this vehicle for verification and investigation,” she added.
But Fajardo said it is a challenge for them to apprehend Sanvicente especially if he will use another vehicle.
“Napakahirap talaga, yun ang challenge natin na bagamat kanselado ang kanyang sasakyan hindi natin alam na siya ay nagmamaneho ng ibang sasakyan unless of course mai-involve na naman ito sa isang insidente at hihingin yung kopya ng kanyang lisensya but just the same, this will not prevent the PNP to really implement the law,” she said. (SunStar Philippines)