LTO-6 revokes license of driver in fatal road crash

By: Jennifer P. Rendon and Emme Rose Santiagudo

THE Land Transportation Office 6 (LTO-6) ordered the perpetual revocation of the driver’s license of the suspect in the June 15, 2019 road crash that killed a couple in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

Rolando Ramos, LTO-6 regional director, ordered the revocation of June Paul Ruffino Valencia’s license “effective 3 September 2019 pursuant to Chapter III, Section 27 of Republic Act 4136 of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.”

The revocation came after Valencia did not show up at the LTO-6 despite demands of a show cause order demanding him to submit himself and explain why his driver’s license should not be revoked or ordered cancelled due to the incident that killed Joemarie Osano, 49, and his wife, Alnie Dinah Osano, of Leofel Subdivision, Barangay Ticud, La Paz, Iloilo City.

Joe Marie Osano was a principal of La Paz 2 Elementary School while his wife was a teacher of Ticud Elementary School in La Paz.

On June 18, the LTO-6 served the show cause order against Valencia at their home in Villa Perla Subdivision, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The show cause order also compelled him to report within five days from the day he received the order.

It also issued a suspension of Valencia’s driver’s license for three months upon receipt of the order.

But in a letter dated June 19, Valencia asked for “a 15-day extension within which to file answer or explanation in view of that he is still in the stage of mental confusion.”

Riza Otayde, LTO-6 spokesperson, said the LTO-6 Operations Division granted Valencia’s request out of humanitarian consideration.

Otayde said the extension started June 24 and ran until July 8.

Valencia’s explanation should have determined if the agency will permanently revoke his license, following its three-month suspension.

“However, to the dismay of this office, the show cause order did not merit any written clarification on the part of Mr. Valencia at the end of the 15-day extension period. With this, he was deemed to have waived his rights and this office shall be constrained to render decision based on the evidences presented.”

The LTO-6 took into consideration Section 4 (A) Paragraph 5 of House Bill No. 1752, which provides that: “the driver of the vehicle at any crosswalk where a sign so indicates shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross a public road when the pedestrian is in crosswalk or pedestrian lane or steps into the lane and is upon the half of the public road upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.”

On top of that, LTO-6 also cited Section 42, Paragraph C is RA 4136 stating that, “the driver of the vehicle upon a highway within a business or residential district shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing such highway within a crosswalk, except at intersections where the movement of traffic is being regulated by a peace officer or by traffic signal.”

But the LTO-6 noted that  Valencia Mazda MX5 sports car was “speeding towards the pedestrian lane, without any caution, bumped the two pedestrians and even overshot a white pickup traversing the same direction that resulted to the instantaneous death of the Osano couple.”

The order stated that Valencia’s action establishes that he had no due regard to traffic or to the lives and limbs.

“This also proves that he is an improper person to operate motor vehicles, which warrants the revocation of his driver’s license.”

It was gathered that 32-year old Valencia used to have an international driver’s license but applied for a Philippine driver’s license sometime in 2016.

He is out on a bail hours after he sideswiped and killed the Osano couple.

The LTO-6 said they are not aware of Valencia’s whereabouts.

But reports claimed that the suspect’s camp was working for an out-of-court settlement with the victims’ family.