LTO to Issue Show-Cause Order; NAPOLCOM Condemns Reckless Driving Incident
By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — A sport utility vehicle (SUV) driver is facing possible sanctions after allegedly hitting a member of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) and fleeing the scene, an incident that was caught on video and later circulated online.
The incident happened in the early hours of the morning along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in Muntinlupa City, near the boundary of San Pedro, Laguna. A motorcycle rider from the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group was reportedly struck by a passing SUV in a hit-and-run incident.
Footage of the incident shows an unidentified white SUV striking a PNP-HPG motorcycle rider before speeding away without stopping to assist the victim.
The police officer sustained minor injuries but is reported to be in stable condition.
In a statement, Rafael Calinisan condemned the driver’s actions, saying the incident not only endangered the injured police officer but also posed a serious threat to other motorists using the highway.
“The reckless actions of the SUV driver placed lives at risk and demonstrated a blatant disregard for road safety,” Calinisan said.
Dashcam footage from the PNP-HPG showed the police officer traveling along the leftmost lane of the highway when the speeding SUV suddenly swerved from the right side of the road and struck the motorcycle.
The impact caused the officer to lose control of his vehicle, throwing him onto the pavement where he rolled several times before coming to a stop.
Despite the crash, the officer was able to stand up and immediately direct oncoming vehicles away from the accident scene to prevent further incidents.
Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office said it would issue a show-cause order against the SUV driver.
According to Vigor Mendoza II, the dashcam footage clearly showed that the vehicle was traveling at excessive speed and that the collision appeared deliberate.
“There is little room for justification based on the video evidence. The driver was clearly overspeeding, and the footage suggests a reckless disregard for the safety of others on the road,” Mendoza said.
Authorities are currently working to identify and locate the driver as investigations continue. The incident has sparked public outrage online, with many calling for swift legal action and stricter enforcement of traffic laws against reckless motorists.
ia/xf
