LTO-6 revokes ex-mayor’s license after fatal crash

By Gerome Dalipe IV

The Land Transportation Office in Western Visayas revoked the driver’s license of former Calinog, Iloilo Mayor Salvador Divinagracia Jr. for four years following a deadly road incident that left one person dead and another seriously injured.

LTO-6 Regional Director Gaudioso P. Geduspan II approved the recommendation of the regional office’s Intelligence and Investigation Unit, which found Divinagracia administratively liable for reckless driving under Section 48 of Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.

Republic Act 4136 prohibits motorists from operating a vehicle recklessly or without reasonable caution under road, traffic, visibility, weather, and other conditions that may endanger people, property, or public roads.

Geduspan confirmed in a recent radio interview that he approved the recommendation of the investigation unit.

He stressed that a driver’s license is a privilege granted by the LTO, not a right, adding that it is within the agency’s discretion whether to issue a new license to the former mayor.

In its resolution, the LTO-6 Intelligence and Investigation Unit stressed that the evidence showed a clear pattern of negligence behind the incident.

“The actions of the respondent and his failure to take account of the circumstances prior to, during, and after the incident, without due care and reasonable caution, constitute reckless driving,” the ruling stated.

The fatal road crash happened March 15 along the highway in Barangay Pasil, New Lucena, Iloilo.

Divinagracia was driving his Ford Raptor pickup truck when it struck a 20-year-old motorcycle rider.

The impact proved fatal, with the rider dying instantly after his motorcycle was dragged along the road.

Instead of stopping at the scene, the vehicle continued forward.

In what investigators described as a chain of collisions, the former mayor’s vehicle later struck another victim, a 37-year-old mechanical engineer from Barangay Lo-ong, Concepcion, who sustained injuries in the second impact.

The incident ended at the Ungka Flyover in Pavia, where law enforcement units intercepted and apprehended Divinagracia.

When questioned, Divinagracia claimed panic took over following the initial collision.

In his written explanation, Divinagracia said he was driving cautiously through Barangay Pasil when a motorcycle allegedly cut across his path, triggering the first crash.

He added that he initially intended to surrender at the nearest police station but was advised by his lawyer to proceed to the Ungka Police Station instead.

However, he was intercepted by responding police officers under the Ungka Flyover while on his way there.

Despite his explanation, the LTO-6 Intelligence and Investigation Unit found his version of events unconvincing.

The agency pointed to evidence showing that the motorcycle involved was dragged approximately three kilometers from the point of impact and later recovered in Barangay Magansina, Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

“This does not demonstrate even the slightest semblance that the respondent exercised the degree of caution required under the circumstances,” the resolution read, adding that a cautious driver could have easily prevented the chain of events.

The LTO-6 further emphasized that the totality of the respondent’s actions reflected “willful, reckless, and wanton disregard” for road safety.

It noted that the incident resulted in damage to property, serious injuries, and the loss of life.

Aside from the four-year license revocation, Divinagracia was ordered to pay a fine.

His vehicle was also placed under alarm until all penalties are fully settled.