LTO issues 90-day suspension on driver's license of motorist in viral road rage video
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a 90-day preventive suspension on the driver’s license of a motorist who went viral over a gun-toting incident in Quezon City involving a bicycle rider.
LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II explained that the suspension is in effect while the ongoing investigation to determine if the driver’s license of Wilfredo Gonzales would be revoked or not over an inappropriate behavior when he hit and even pulled out a gun over a road rage incident on Aug. 8.
“This is an immediate action from the LTO to ensure that he would not repeat the same incident. This is not the final decision, the investigation is ongoing and depending on the outcome of this probe, his driver’s license may be revoked,” said Mendoza.
The suspension order on Gonzales’ order is based on the power of the LTO under Section 27 of Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
Mendoza also disclosed that a Show Cause Order was already received by Gonzales on Monday, Aug. 28, which orders him to appear before the LTO investigators and bring with him a notarized explanation as to why he should not be punished.
While Gonzales’ inappropriate behavior was glaring as shown in the viral video, Mendoza said the right to due process of the motorist involved should be respected as part of the legal system.
“But pending the result of the ongoing investigation, the driver’s license of Mr. Wilfredo Gonzales is temporarily suspended for 90-days unless earlier resolved,” said Mendoza.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier revoked the gun permits of Gonzales, a cop dismissed in 2018, for three guns over the same incident.