04/11/2026
𝗡𝗢 𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬: 𝗟𝗧𝗢-𝟲 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝟰-𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗣𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗟𝗔 𝗣𝗔𝗭 𝗛𝗜𝗧-𝗔𝗡𝗗-𝗥𝗨𝗡
A 29-year-old optometrist is facing a possible four-year revocation of his driver's license after the Land Transportation Office Region VI (LTO-6) found him administratively liable for reckless driving and leaving the scene of a vehicular accident in La Paz, Iloilo City.
LTO-6 Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II approved the recommendation of the Regional Office's Intelligence and Investigation Unit (IIU) to revoke the doctor's license for violating Sections 48 and 55 of Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
The case stemmed from a predawn crash on Oct. 11, 2026, in which a sedan rammed a roadside store and a parked tricycle before its driver sped away, triggering a police pursuit.
In a three-page resolution, Director Geduspan said the evidence, including video footage and official records, provided substantial grounds to hold the optometrist administratively liable.
"After careful evaluation of the records including the video footage, this Office finds substantial evidence to hold respondent administratively liable for violations of Section 48 (Reckless Driving) and Section 55 (Duty of Driver in Case of Accident) of Republic Act No. 4136," the resolution read.
The incident occurred at around 12:45 a.m. along Coastal Road in Barangay Baldoza, La Paz.
Police investigation showed that the Honda Accord first struck a sari-sari store before hitting a parked motorcycle with a sidecar about 50 meters away.
Rather than stop, identify himself or report the incident to authorities, the driver allegedly continued toward Barangay La Granja.
Responding police officers later caught up with the vehicle in Barangay Caingin. The pursuit ended in a violent confrontation after the driver allegedly refused police instructions and attempted to ram the officers, prompting them to open fire.
The optometrist sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen and underwent surgery.
In a written explanation submitted through counsel on October 19, the doctor maintained that he left the scene out of fear for his safety, claiming he was in a dark residential area and faced imminent danger of serious harm.
The LTO-6 investigation unit, however, found his explanation insufficient to excuse his actions.
LTO-6 investigators pointed to the successive impacts involving the roadside store and the parked motorcycle, as well as the damage to the front portion of the sedan, as evidence that the driver failed to exercise reasonable caution.
The LTO-6 IIU also rejected his claim of imminent danger, noting that the alleged shooting happened only after police officers arrived and pursued him.
Under Section 55 of RA 4136, drivers involved in road accidents are required to identify themselves, provide the necessary information and render assistance to victims, except under specific circumstances provided by law.
Section 48, meanwhile, prohibits reckless driving that endangers people or property.
The resolution found the doctor liable for both violations and recommended the revocation of his driver's license for four years, along with the corresponding fines under Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01.
His existing 90-day preventive suspension will remain in effect pending approval of the revocation recommendation.
Director Geduspan had earlier ordered the preventive suspension and issued a show-cause order requiring the doctor to explain why administrative sanctions should not be imposed.
The LTO-6 chief stressed that road safety goes beyond avoiding collisions. Drivers must also take responsibility when accidents happen and comply with their legal obligations.
Leaving an accident scene without fulfilling those duties is a serious violation that LTO-6 will not take lightly.
