MAHIPUS
DAVAO CITY – A Davao City councilor urged the Land Transportation Office-11 on Tuesday, Jan. 6, to use their authority to promptly suspend or revoke the licenses of drivers whose traffic violations result in property damage, injury, or death.
In a privilege speech during the 21st Davao City Council regular session, Committee on Socialized Housing Projects Chairman Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr. reported that over 30 people were taken to a hospital due to road mishaps here last month.
“The number of accidents during the holiday period must disturb us, not merely as a statistic, but as a warning. When injuries multiply in such a short span of time, what confronts us is not chance, but a pattern,” Mahipus said.
Mahipus said road accidents are unavoidable, particularly when they involve drunk driving, reckless driving, overspeeding, or other apparent violations of traffic rules. He stressed that what follows is not fate, but negligence.
The councilor argued that administrative action should be treated as a preventive public-safety measure and should not be delayed while criminal cases are pending. He said these laws do not require invention, but rather, they require execution.
Mahipus cited Republic Act No. 10586, or The Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013, prohibiting the operation of motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or dangerous drugs.
He also cited Republic Act No. 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code) as vesting the LTO with administrative and quasi-judicial authority over driver’s licenses, including suspension and revocation when public safety is endangered.
The councilor referenced Republic Act No. 10930 (An Act Rationalizing and Strengthening the Policy Regarding Driver’s License), which reinforces that a driver’s license is a privilege subject to continuing fitness, compliance, and accountability.
Mahipus proposed a resolution urging the LTO-11 to suspend or revoke licenses “when warranted in accordance with existing laws,” including but not limited to cases involving driving under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs, or similar substances.
The proposed resolution urges traffic and police authorities to regularly report serious traffic accidents involving injury, death, or significant property damage to LTO-11 for review and action.
Mahipus said the measure invokes Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991), which mandates coordination among government agencies to protect public safety and promote the general welfare, as the legal basis for inter-agency cooperation.
He said he will send copies of the proposed resolution and privilege speech to the Davao City Mayor’s Office and other concerned transport and law enforcement agencies for information and guidance.