THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a Show Cause Order (SCO) against the registered owner and the driver of a truck which figured in a multiple fatal road accident in Quezon City on Thursday, December 5, that left at least four people dead.
LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said the SCO was issued as part of the conduct of the investigation into the multiple vehicle collision along Katipunan Avenue flyover in Barangay Loyola Heights that inflicted injuries to at least 30 people, four of them died as a result of the accident.
Based on the police report submitted to the LTO-Law Enforcement Service (LES), an Isuzu Wing Van Truck with Plate No. RJK-719 driven by Richard R. Mangupag rammed several vehicles and motorcycles along the road.
“Part of the investigation we are conducting is to determine if there are lapses on the part of the registered owner, especially on the aspect of road worthiness and the employment of the driver,” said Assec Mendoza.
“Apat ang namatay dito at mahigit 25 ang nasugatan at ang ating imbestigasyon ay upang matiyak na mabibigyan ng hustisya ang mga biktima ng insidenteng ito,” he added.
In the SCO signed by LTO-LES director Eduardo de Guzman, the registered owner of the truck was asked to explain why he should not be sanctioned over the incident.
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“In view thereof, you, as the registered owner of the complained motor vehicle, are hereby directed to submit a written explanation why you should not be administratively charged for Employing Reckless Driver,” the SCO read.
It stated that employment of reckless drivers is a violation of the Paragraph 7 Title IV of the Joint Administrative Order 2014-01.
On the other hand, Mangupag was directed to submit his own written explanation as to why he should not be charged for Reckless Driving (Sec. 48 of R.A. 41236) and why his driver’s license should not be suspended or revoked for being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle in connection with the incident.
Assec Mendoza said the driving privilege of Mangupag was preventively suspended for 90 days and was also ordered to surrender his driver’s license on or before Dec. 10, the scheduled first hearing.
Assec Mendoza also said that the driver’s license and Plate No. RJK-719 will be placed under alarm preventing any and all transactions while under investigation.
“Failure to appear and submit the written comments/explanations as required shall be construed by this Office as a waiver of your rights to be heard, and the case shall be decided based on the evidence at hand,” the SCO read