THE Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) is currently processing the violations of a driver who allegedly intentionally bumped a traffic enforcer on January 11, 2025.
CTTMO head Dionisio Abude told SunStar Davao that their initial step is to submit documents to the Land Transportation Office-Davao Region (LTO-Davao), which will conduct its investigation. Authorities have also urged the driver to surrender and present his driver’s license.
The CTTMO will provide additional documents to support the investigation, including a medical certificate, police blotter, relevant records, and CCTV footage. These materials will help LTO-Davao determine the appropriate violations and penalties.
“Sa amo diri nga side syempre ang violation sa traffic rules and regulations sa atoang traffic code ug katong criminal nga ang iyang intention na gipara na siya sa atoang enforcer naa sa atubangan atoang enforcer nga nagpadayon siya ug padagan so basin naa toy criminal aspect didto mao na amoang gi-prepare karon (From our side, the violations involve traffic rules under our traffic code and the potential criminal aspect. The enforcer had signaled the driver to stop and was in front of the vehicle, but the driver continued to drive forward. This suggests a criminal intent, which we are preparing to address),” he said on Tuesday afternoon, January 14, 2025.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) will also conduct a separate investigation into the driver, identified by plate number XDH655, who has denied being flagged down by the enforcer.
Abude said a clarificatory hearing was held with representatives from LTO-Davao, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), and the TEU to determine the facts. During the hearing, the traffic enforcer and the driver shared their accounts of the incident.
The enforcer reported three violations by the driver. The first occurred near Torres Shell Gas Station, where the driver used a lane restricted to vehicles exiting the gas station. The second happened when the enforcer tried to flag him down while riding a motorcycle, but the driver allegedly bumped him. The enforcer responded by hitting the car with his hand. Instead of cooperating, the driver drove off, bumping the enforcer again.
In contrast, the driver claimed he did not see the enforcer attempting to flag him down. However, CCTV footage confirmed the enforcer’s account, showing the driver avoiding him intentionally.
The driver later claimed he was not in his right mind during the incident due to rising blood pressure. He offered conflicting explanations for his actions, initially stating he went straight home for his wife’s medical assistance but later saying he went to a condominium, took medication, and fell asleep.
Abude said that if the driver had been unwell, he could have asked for assistance, and authorities would have taken him to the nearest hospital. He reminded drivers that violations are typically penalized with small fines and that stopping when flagged down is a legal obligation.
The incident, captured on CCTV and widely shared online, showed a driver recklessly bumping a traffic enforcer on Saturday, January 11, 2025, near Gaisano Mall Bajada. RGP