The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has suspended the driver’s license of the driver of a Mercedes Benz who allegedly shot dead a fellow motorist over a road rage incident in Makati City—and revealed that it is now in the process of permanently stripping him of the privilege to drive motor vehicles.
LTO chief Asst. Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II said that a 90-day preventive suspension of driver’s license was already issued against Gerrard Raymund Yu following the fatal shooting that killed a 65-year old family driver on Tuesday afternoon, May 28.
“We already issued a Show Cause Order against him and since he is already under police custody for a case that is non-bailable, he was directed to submit a notarized affidavit on why he should not be penalized,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza said the administrative cases against Yu are Reckless Driving and Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle under Republic Act 4136—which has a maximum penalty of revocation of driver’s license.
Mendoza earlier ordered an investigation into the incident after the Philippine National Police (PNP) sought for LTO assistance to identify the registered owner of a black Mercedes Benz whose driver was tagged as the one who shot 65-year old Aniceto Mateo.
In response, the LTO-National Capital Region issued an SCO against the registered owner of the car in Las Piñas City. This led to the police operation in Las Piñas City and it was later found out that the registered owner was not the driver.
Police investigators later tracked down Yu in his house in Pasig City where he was arrested and where the Mercedes Benz was found along with two handguns, one of them matched with the bullet that killed Mateo.
Mendoza said the registered owner will be asked to explain why Yu was driving the black Mercedes Benz.
He added that both the registered owner and Yu will be also asked to explain why there were two license plates seized during the operation--- one is a green plate BCS77 and the other is a white plate DAB 9670 which was the one installed in the car when the police arrested Yu.
“These are all part of the due process. What is important here is that it sent a strong message that the PNP and the LTO are working together to address this kind of crime,” said Mendoza.