Mendoza orders retraining of all LTO enforcers over viral Bohol 'manhandling' video
Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II ordered on Sunday, March 2, the retraining of all the enforcers of the agency nationwide following the viral video of alleged manhandling of a motorcycle rider in Bohol..
Mendoza’s order came after the LTO also imposed a preventive suspension on the five LTO enforcers in the viral video based on the instruction of Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon.
Mendoza said subjecting all LTO enforcers to refresher courses is part of the measures to ensure that the incident that happened in Bohol will not be repeated in the future.
“The incident that happened in Bohol calls for a deeper and systematic approach to ensure that this will not happen again in the future. So we will be holding retraining for all LTO enforcers nationwide, and it’s mandatory,” said Mendoza.
In the video, five LTO enforcers were seen arresting a motorcycle rider who allegedly yielded a knife.
The incident did not sit well with netizens and some local officials in Bohol over manhandling allegations.
Mendoza said he already instructed the head and personnel of the LTO-Law Enforcement Service (LES) at the Central Office to craft an updated version of the protocol that should be observed in enforcing traffic rules and regulations.
The retraining program, according to Mendoza, will focus on observing human rights and proper procedures in enforcing all the road safety regulations.
Mendoza said they will seek the assistance of the Philippine National Police in crafting the guideline on LTO enforcement and in the actual retraining itself.
Meanwhile, he said the suspension order on the five LTO enforcers involved will take effect immediately and will remain effective until the thorough investigation is done.
“My instruction is to finish the investigation in the soonest possible time in order to ferret out the truth, determine if there was any lapses, and punish those who would be found liable,” said Mendoza.