THE Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region (LTO-NIR) is looking for a driver of a brown pickup truck allegedly involved in a recent ‘gas and go’ incident in a gasoline station in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City. (Screengrab via LTO-NIR video)
BACOLOD CITY – The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region (LTO-NIR) has warned the driver of a brown pickup truck allegedly involved in a recent "gas and go" incident in a gasoline station in Barangay Alijis here to surface within 24 hours.
"Consider this your final warning," the LTO-NIR stated.
The agency, in coordination with local law enforcement and gas station management, is reviewing a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and tracking the movements of the vehicle with no license plate that allegedly left without paying diesel fuel amounting to P7,800 on July 17.
"You are hereby given 24 hours from the release of this notice to voluntarily present yourself to the nearest LTO office or police station to settle your account and address your actions," the LTO-NIR said after learning of the incident.
A copy of the CCTV footage was posted on social media this week to seek netizens’ help in identifying the driver.
The agency warned that if he fails to appear before the ongoing investigation and intelligence tracking positively identify him, authorities will execute the immediate and permanent revocation of his driver's license on grounds of being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.
An active alarm and apprehend-on-sight order will be issued across all law enforcement units to locate, seize, and impound the subject vehicle. He faces maximum fines for operating an unregistered or unlicensed motor vehicle, alongside formal criminal charges for theft and fraud.
The agency stressed that driving a vehicle without visible license plates is a blatant defiance of land transportation laws, and using it to commit theft is an unmitigated criminal act.
"The lack of a license plate will not protect you; it only aggravates your offenses and guarantees a harsher penalty once caught," it added. "Turn yourself in immediately before the authority of the law catches up with you," the agency said.
Three fuel and run incidents have been recorded by LTO-NIR amid the global oil crisis tied due to tensions in the Middle East since February.