LTO revokes driver’s license of man for cellphone use, harsh remark

MANILA, Philippines — The license of a driver who was heard making an inappropriate remark about a road incident was revoked by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for violating the Anti-Distracted Driving Act.

The LTO said the driver violated traffic laws by using a cellphone while driving to record the incident. “[He] deliberately slow[ed] down amid heavy traffic to record the incident while driving,” it said.

The video showed the driver saying, “Sayang naman, hindi pa namatay (What a waste, he didn’t even die),” referring to the incident being attended to by law enforcers.

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According to the LTO, the driver’s use of a cellphone while driving and his deliberate decision to slow down to record the incident posed a danger not only to his own safety but also to that of other motorists.

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The investigation also found that the driver had a previous record with a local government unit’s traffic enforcement office for an earlier counterflow violation.

“As a result, the driver was declared an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle, which served as the basis for the LTO’s revocation of his driver’s license,” the LTO said in a release on Monday, Oct. 5.

The driver has already voluntarily surrendered his license, while the vehicle remains under alarm status as part of the agency’s enforcement action.

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“An incident in which someone is injured or put at risk is no laughing matter, so motorists should not disregard any act that could endanger people on the road,” said Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao.

“In this case, it is clear that the driver is accountable for using a cellphone while driving and for his actions during the incident. Because of this, the LTO imposed the appropriate action in accordance with existing laws,” he said.

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The LTO once again urged motorists to use mobile phones responsibly while driving and to observe proper conduct on the road. /jpv