MANILA, Philippines — An employee of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is facing dismissal from government service and permanent revocation of his driver’s license after allegedly hitting pedestrians and fleeing the scene in Antipolo City.
The incident happened along Sumulong Highway on the evening of August 14, when a group of coworkers was reportedly crossing a pedestrian lane. A vehicle struck several pedestrians before speeding away, according to a GMA News report.
What followed was a dramatic chase.
An off-duty police officer who witnessed the incident pursued the vehicle for about 10 minutes. Dashcam footage reportedly showed the suspect overtaking other vehicles, driving against oncoming traffic and running a red light before he was eventually cornered and arrested.
The suspect was brought to the Antipolo Police Precinct in Cogeo and was facing complaints for reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries and abandonment of one’s own victim, GMA News reported. He declined to issue a statement.
Driver allegedly admitted drinking
The case drew even greater attention after the pursuing police officer said the driver admitted that he had been drinking before the incident.
According to the officer, the driver claimed he did not know that he had struck pedestrians. However, one of the victims disputed that account, saying she saw the vehicle slow down briefly after the impact before continuing to drive away.
The two female victims suffered severe bruising and minor injuries and were later discharged from the hospital. One of the victims said she intends to pursue charges.
LTO chief orders tough action
The driver’s identity was particularly significant because he is reportedly an LTO employee assigned to the agency’s Quezon City district office.
LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao ordered an investigation and said the employee would not receive special treatment. Philstar reported that Lacanilao ordered the immediate revocation of the employee’s driver’s license and lifetime disqualification from obtaining another license.
GMA News likewise reported that Lacanilao ordered the employee’s immediate dismissal from government service and permanent license revocation.
Lacanilao emphasized that an LTO employee is expected to understand and follow traffic rules, making the alleged conduct especially serious.
The LTO chief also stressed that the agency would enforce the law even against its own personnel, underscoring the administration’s position that government employees should not be shielded from accountability.
A bigger test for accountability
The incident puts the spotlight not only on alleged drunk driving and hit-and-run behavior but also on the credibility of the agency tasked with regulating drivers and enforcing road-safety rules.
The LTO has previously taken administrative action against motorists involved in high-profile road incidents. In other cases, the agency has issued Show Cause Orders, imposed preventive license suspensions and placed vehicles under alarm while investigations were underway.
The LTO’s own procedures also recognize mechanisms for handling vehicles involved in hit-and-run incidents, including the tagging and lifting of vehicle alarms following the required investigation and documentation.
For the Antipolo case, however, the stakes are considerably higher because the person at the center of the investigation is himself an LTO employee.
What happens next?
The criminal and administrative consequences are separate matters. The police and prosecutors will determine the appropriate criminal proceedings based on the available evidence, while the LTO can impose administrative sanctions involving the employee’s license and government employment.
For the victims, the immediate concern is accountability and recovery.
For the LTO, the case has become a test of whether its promise of “no special treatment” will translate into concrete action.
And with dashcam footage, witness accounts and the suspect’s reported admission of drinking now part of the developing story, the next stage of the investigation could determine just how severe the final consequences will be.
Leave a Reply