By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is expected to issue its resolution this week on the pending administrative case involving actor Niño Muhlach over a road crash in Antipolo City on August 23, LTO chief Markus Lacanilao said Wednesday.
Lacanilao said the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) is preparing its recommendation on the case, with the resolution expected within the week.
Muhlach appeared before the LTO on Tuesday and surrendered his driver’s license following the incident.
According to Lacanilao, the actor admitted that fatigue contributed to the crash and said he was prepared to shoulder responsibility for those affected.
“Inako naman niya yung pagkakamali niya, nakatulog siya sa sobrang pagod sa trabaho. Tapos yung responsibility don sa mga nabangga niya… sinagot niya,” Lacanilao told reporters.
Lacanilao stressed, however, that Muhlach’s admission and willingness to compensate those involved would not determine the agency’s final action.
“May pananagutan pa din, kailangan may pananagutan kasi kahit umamin siya na sasagutin lahat—hindi ibig sabihin non na wala siyang pananagutan, meron pa rin po,” he said.
The IID will recommend the appropriate sanction after examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, Lacanilao said, adding that the agency would consider the evidence before issuing its decision.
He said the circumstances leading to the incident would be assessed, including whether fatigue or another factor was involved.
“Ano ba talaga totoo, pagod ka ba, lasing ka ba o ano? Kasi kung lasing ka, perpetual revocation yan… Eh kung talagang pagod, hindi naman tayo perpekto, hindi kinaya, aksidente talaga so babalansehin po natin ang magiging resolution,” Lacanilao said.
Lacanilao also said Muhlach would have the right to appeal the LTO’s decision regardless of the sanction imposed.
The agency is expected to finalize its action after the IID completes its evaluation of the case.
ia/xf
