CEBU CITY – A taxi driver and “habal-habal” (motorcycle-for-hire) driver are facing possible penalties after they figured in a fistfight in the middle of the road in Barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on Monday, October 2.
The incident was caught on video and has gone viral online.
A VIDEO screengrab shows a taxi driver and ‘habal-habal’ driver in a fistfight in the middle of the road in Barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City. (Photo via Calvin Cordova)
Glen Galario, chief of the Land Transportation Office-Central Visayas (LTO-7), said a show-cause order (SCO) will be issued to the two drivers to explain why they should not be penalized for the incident.
“We have already coordinated with the Philippine National Police and Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management Office with the details of both motorists in the video. We have initially been informed that one is a taxi driver and the other one is a habal-habal driver,” said Galario.
He said issuing the SCO is in line with the directive of LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II urging the agency to be responsive to concerns on road rage and road safety.
Galario described the actions of the two drivers as “alarming” that “must be dealt with immediately since it involves matters pertaining to road safety.”
Witnesses said the scuffle caused heavy traffic in the area.
“This behavior has no place in our roads since it compromises road safety especially that they are both drivers of public utility vehicles. But we will observe due process on this and that’s why we asked them to explain their side,” said Galario.
Galario said the two drivers should explain why they should not be penalized under Section 48, Article 5 of the Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.