Road rage doctor submits response to LTO as agency investigates incident
By Alexandria San Juan
The doctor involved in a recent viral road rage incident appeared at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to answer the show-cause order issued against him by the agency.
(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Lawyer Clarence Guinto, acting director of the LTO Law Enforcement Service (LES), said Tomas Mendez went to the agency's office in Quezon City on Thursday afternoon and submitted a sworn statement.
Mendez, who came with his lawyer, refused to comment about the incident and immediately left the premises after submitting his response.
The complainant Santiago Paredes also went to the agency to give his own testimony.
Mendez was caught on video yelling at Santiago whom he accused of almost hitting his car and blocking his way on the road.
In videos circulating online since last week, Mendez was heard hurling expletives and insults at Paredes who was driving an L300 van at that time.
The voice of a woman, apparently that of Paredes' wife, Merly, was also heard in the video saying that Mendez threw things at them first.
A separate video also surfaced online where Mendez was seen shouting at another driver.
These incidents prompted the LTO to summon Mendez to explain why his license should not be suspended or revoked.
According to Guinto, the agency's Intelligence and Investigation Division will evaluate the statements of Mendez and Paredes as well as the video before submitting a recommendation to LTO assistant secretary Edgar Galvante.
"If the investigator needs more clarification, he may call again for another hearing or he may now submit his recommendation to the disciplining authority," Guinto explained.
Under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, the LTO assistant secretary has the authority to suspend or revoke any driver's license if "he has reason to believe that the holder is an improper person to operate motor vehicles."
Read more:Â LTO summons doctor to explain rude behavior in road rage incident
(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Lawyer Clarence Guinto, acting director of the LTO Law Enforcement Service (LES), said Tomas Mendez went to the agency's office in Quezon City on Thursday afternoon and submitted a sworn statement.
Mendez, who came with his lawyer, refused to comment about the incident and immediately left the premises after submitting his response.
The complainant Santiago Paredes also went to the agency to give his own testimony.
Mendez was caught on video yelling at Santiago whom he accused of almost hitting his car and blocking his way on the road.
In videos circulating online since last week, Mendez was heard hurling expletives and insults at Paredes who was driving an L300 van at that time.
The voice of a woman, apparently that of Paredes' wife, Merly, was also heard in the video saying that Mendez threw things at them first.
A separate video also surfaced online where Mendez was seen shouting at another driver.
These incidents prompted the LTO to summon Mendez to explain why his license should not be suspended or revoked.
According to Guinto, the agency's Intelligence and Investigation Division will evaluate the statements of Mendez and Paredes as well as the video before submitting a recommendation to LTO assistant secretary Edgar Galvante.
"If the investigator needs more clarification, he may call again for another hearing or he may now submit his recommendation to the disciplining authority," Guinto explained.
Under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, the LTO assistant secretary has the authority to suspend or revoke any driver's license if "he has reason to believe that the holder is an improper person to operate motor vehicles."
Read more:Â LTO summons doctor to explain rude behavior in road rage incident