JEEPNEYS COLLIDE. Two jeepneys engage in repeated collisions along a small and congested road in Barangay Bagong Silang in Caloocan City on Thursday (Sept. 26, 2024). A road rage allegedly triggered the repeated collisions, prompting the Land Transportation Office to summon the operators of both jeepneys. (Screengrab from Facebook video courtesy of John Del Bulandos)
MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Friday summoned the registered operators of two passenger jeepneys involved in repeated collisions allegedly caused by road rage in Caloocan City.
In a statement, LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said the show cause order (SCO) issued to both operators also ordered them to identify the drivers responsible for a separate investigation on whether to suspend or revoke their driver’s licenses.
He said the LTO would not let such behavior go unpunished because they risked not only their lives but also the lives of their passengers.
“Lubhang delikado ang ginawang dalawang driver na ito dahil kitang-kita sa video na nag-viral sa social media na may mga pasahero sila nung mangyari ang insidente (What these two drivers did was very dangerous, the viral social media video showed they had passengers during the incident),” Mendoza said.
The SCO was signed by LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division Chief Renante Melitante, who ordered the operators involved to appear before the LTO Central Office in Quezon City on Monday.
It also ordered their drivers to explain why they should not be held responsible for three violations—reckless driving, obstruction of traffic, and improper person to operate a vehicle all under Section 4 of Republic Act (RA) 41236.
It also temporarily placed the two passenger jeepneys with plate numbers TVS-273 and TVN-720 on alarm, preventing any transactions while the case is under investigation.
“Failure to appear and submit the written comments/explanations as required shall be construed by this Office as a waiver of your rights to be heard, and the case shall be decided based on the evidence on hand,” it said.
On Thursday, two passenger jeepneys were caught on camera jostling each other while trying to overtake on a tight and congested road in Barangay Bagong Silang in Caloocan City.
The two jeepneys collided on their sides until one was able to advance, which prompted the jeepney at the rear to deliberately crash into the back of the other vehicle.
The passengers were seen scrambling to leave the jeepneys due to the repeated collisions. (PNA)
