LTO-6 issues new order vs student over post

By Jennifer P. Rendon

“Barya lang” (Chump change).

A 20-year-old college student could lose his driving privileges after posting on social media a remark that appeared to mock fines imposed by the Land Transportation Office in Western Visayas.

The Land Transportation Office-6 had earlier issued a show cause order against the student after receiving a video that allegedly showed him driving recklessly.

He was fined PHP 10,000 for operating an unregistered vehicle and PHP 2,000 for reckless driving.

Before he could pay the penalties, however, he stirred more controversy by posting on social media that the fines were merely “barya lang (loose change).”

That did not sit well with lawyer Gaudioso Geduspan II, LTO-6 regional director, who said the post showed disrespect for the agency that granted him the authority to drive.

“I strongly condemn such acts of mocking the law enforcement efforts of the Regional Office. Such behavior has no place in a society governed by the rule of law,” he said.

Geduspan again stressed that driving is a privilege, not a constitutional right.

“We will determine whether this motorist is even a proper person to operate a motor vehicle,” he said.

LTO-6 issued another show cause order against the student over the remark.

Accompanied by his mother, the motorist appeared before lawyer Jehan Miranda, LTO-6 public utilities regulation officer, on Monday following the issuance of the first show cause order for reckless driving.

Miranda reprimanded the motorist for his online behavior and warned him that ridiculing the fines while committing traffic violations could lead to the perpetual disqualification of his driver’s license.

In the newly issued show cause order, the LTO-6 Intelligence and Investigation Unit said it received a verified report, along with a video posted online, showing a Toyota Vios being driven recklessly along the highway.

The footage showed the vehicle overspeeding and weaving through traffic, dangerously overtaking other motorists and placing both drivers and pedestrians at risk.

The LTO-6 Intelligence and Investigation Unit also cited the driver’s social media post captioned “violation, barya lang,” referring to his earlier penalties.

According to the show cause order, the combination of reckless driving and publicly mocking regulatory enforcement demonstrated disregard for traffic laws and undermined respect for public safety regulations.

Under Republic Act 4136, Section 48 prohibits reckless driving, which is defined as operating a motor vehicle without reasonable caution or in a manner that endangers property, safety or the rights of others.

Section 27(a) of the same law allows authorities to deem a person “an improper person to operate a motor vehicle” when that person’s conduct shows disregard for traffic laws and lawful authority.

Based on these provisions, the motorist was ordered to submit a written explanation within five working days explaining why administrative sanctions should not be imposed.

The driver had already drawn attention in January after another video circulated online showing a Chevrolet Trailblazer speeding along Diversion Road in Mandurriao.

The clip, captioned “Saksi mga kaibigan ko kung gaano ako ka-safe mag-drive,” appeared to show dangerous overtaking maneuvers captured on dashcam-style footage.

LTO-6 records later showed that the SUV’s registration had already expired at the time.

Following the viral video, Geduspan immediately ordered investigators to issue a show cause order against the registered owner.

In his written explanation, the motorist later expressed “sincere regret” over the incident.

He claimed he was not behind the wheel at the time, saying he was based in Metro Manila and that his son allegedly drove the vehicle without his knowledge.

He also blamed the expired registration on confusion over another vehicle’s renewal schedule.

However, the LTO-6 Intelligence and Investigation Office found sufficient evidence to hold him liable.

In a three-page resolution approved by Geduspan, the regional office ordered the driver to pay PHP 2,010 for reckless driving and PHP 10,000 for operating an unregistered vehicle under Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01.