LTO-6 seeks four-year license revocation for La Paz optometrist
By Gerome Dalipe
ILOILO CITY – A 29-year-old optometrist faces a possible four-year revocation of his driver’s license after the Land Transportation Office Region 6 (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 Gaudioso P. Geduspan II approved the recommendation of the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Unit (IIU) to revoke the driver’s license for violations of Sections 48 and 55 of Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
The case stemmed from a predawn road crash on Oct. 11, 2026, along Coastal Road in Barangay Baldoza, La Paz, at around 12:45 a.m.
A police investigation showed that the Honda Accord driven by the optometrist first struck a roadside sari-sari store before hitting a parked motorcycle with a sidecar about 50 meters away.
The driver allegedly fled toward Barangay La Granja without stopping or reporting the incident to authorities.
Responding police officers later caught up with the vehicle in Barangay Caingin.
The pursuit ended in a confrontation after the driver allegedly refused to follow 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 three-page resolution, Geduspan said video footage and official records provided substantial evidence to hold the driver administratively liable for reckless driving and failure to fulfill his duties following an accident.
“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 stated.
In a written explanation submitted through his lawyer on Oct. 19, the optometrist said he left the scene because he feared for his safety.
He claimed he was in a dark residential area and faced an imminent threat of serious harm.
However, the LTO-6 investigation unit found his explanation insufficient to justify leaving the accident scene.
Investigators cited the successive collisions involving the roadside store and the parked motorcycle, as well as the damage to the sedan’s front portion, as evidence that the driver failed to exercise reasonable caution.
The IIU also rejected his claim of imminent danger, noting that the alleged shooting occurred 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 assist victims, subject to exceptions provided by law.
The law allows drivers to leave an accident scene if they face imminent danger of serious harm, report the incident to the nearest law enforcement officer or need to summon medical assistance for a victim.
Section 48 prohibits reckless driving that endangers people or property.
The resolution recommended revoking the optometrist’s 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.
Geduspan had earlier ordered the preventive suspension and issued a show-cause order directing the driver to explain why administrative sanctions should not be imposed.
The Iloilo City Police Office also pursued separate criminal complaints for direct assault, attempted homicide and reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property following the Oct. 11 incident.
The administrative proceedings before LTO-6 are separate from the criminal complaints arising from the incident.
Geduspan emphasized that road safety does not end with avoiding collisions, as drivers are also responsible for taking appropriate action when accidents occur and complying with their legal obligations.
Leaving an accident scene without fulfilling these responsibilities constitutes a serious traffic violation that LTO-6 will continue to address.
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