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

By Gerome Dalipe

Land Transportation Office chief Assistant Secretary Markus V. Lacanilao upheld the recommendation to revoke former Calinog, Iloilo, Mayor Salvador Divinagracia Jr.’s driver’s license following a fatal road crash in March.

The crash killed one person and seriously injured another.

In a two-page order dated July 7, Lacanilao adopted the recommendation of LTO Region 6 Director Gaudioso P. Geduspan II and the findings of the regional Intelligence and Investigation Unit.

The unit found Divinagracia administratively liable for reckless driving under Section 48 of Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.

The order prohibits Divinagracia from obtaining a new driver’s license for two years.

The two-year period will begin once he surrenders his current license.

The administrative penalty does not prevent authorities or affected parties from pursuing separate civil or criminal cases under existing laws.

The LTO Region 6 Intelligence and Investigation Unit found that the evidence showed a clear pattern of negligence.

Investigators concluded that Divinagracia failed to exercise the care and prudence expected of a responsible driver before, during, and after the crash.

The case stemmed from a collision on the evening of March 15 along the national highway in Barangay Pasil, New Lucena, Iloilo.

Divinagracia was driving a Ford Raptor pickup truck when it collided with a motorcycle ridden by a 20-year-old man.

The motorcyclist died at the scene after the pickup dragged the motorcycle along the road.

Investigators also found that Divinagracia did not stop to help the victim after the collision.

Police said the pickup continued fleeing the scene and later struck a second victim.

The second victim, a 37-year-old mechanical engineer from Barangay Lo-ong, Concepcion, suffered serious injuries.

The pursuit ended beneath the Ungka Flyover in Pavia, where law enforcement officers intercepted and arrested Divinagracia.

During the investigation, Divinagracia said he panicked after the initial collision.

In his written explanation, Divinagracia said he had been driving carefully when a motorcycle suddenly crossed his path, leaving him no opportunity to avoid the collision.

He also said he intended to surrender at the nearest police station.

Divinagracia said he decided, on his lawyer’s advice, to proceed to the Ungka Police Station instead.

Responding officers intercepted him beneath the Ungka Flyover before he reached the station.

The LTO Region 6 Intelligence and Investigation Unit found his explanation unpersuasive.

Investigators cited evidence showing that the motorcycle was dragged about 3 kilometers from the point of impact before it was recovered in Barangay Magansina, Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

Lacanilao directed Divinagracia to surrender his driver’s license to either the LTO Central Office’s Intelligence and Investigation Division or the LTO Region 6 Intelligence and Investigation Unit in Iloilo City.

The order requires him to surrender the license within five days of receiving the decision.

Lacanilao warned that Divinagracia would face penalties for driving without a valid license if caught operating a vehicle after the revocation takes effect.

The vehicle he is driving would also be impounded.