LTO revokes cop’s license over student’s fatal crash

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6 has revoked the driver’s license of a police officer whose negligence led to the death of an 18-year-old pharmacy student in Iloilo City.

The decision, announced Thursday, Oct. 23, was described by the LTO as a major administrative action against reckless driving.

In a statement, the agency said its former chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, approved the ruling, which permanently revoked the officer’s driving privileges and imposed a four-year ban on applying for a new license.

The finding, issued by LTO-6 Regional Director Gaudioso P. Geduspan II and Intelligence Chief Shiela Mae Alulod, was described as final and executory.

“The policeman’s negligent conduct directly caused the tragic death… His continued possession of a driver’s license poses a risk to public safety,” the LTO resolution stated.

The officer’s driving record has been placed under alarm, and any attempt to drive within the four-year disqualification period will result in a violation for driving without a license and the impoundment of the vehicle.

Authorities said the unnamed police officer was driving a Regional Medical and Dental Unit 6 ambulance along Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue in Jaro, Iloilo City when he struck an 18-year-old student at around 7:40 a.m. on June 4.

The victim, identified as Margaret Beatrice Niñalga, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy student at the University of San Agustin and a resident of Barangay Kinamaligan, Masbate City, succumbed to her injuries at around 2 p.m. on June 10.

Investigators found that the ambulance was not transporting any patient or responding to an emergency at the time of the crash.

It was reportedly en route to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office headquarters at Camp Sumagaysay in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, to conduct wellness checkups for police personnel.