Rider loses license over viral Oton road rage chase

By Gerome Dalipe

OTON, Iloilo — A motorcycle rider lost his driver’s license and was fined PHP 2,010 after a road rage incident here was caught on video and went viral, prompting swift action from the Land Transportation Office in Western Visayas.

The incident occurred on March 1 along a national highway in this town.

Footage showed the rider aggressively pursuing a car, repeatedly honking and shouting, after allegedly being provoked on the road.

The car driver, who said he only sounded his horn as a precaution due to the motorcycle’s dangerous swerving, opted not to engage and instead drove straight to a police station.

The rider dropped off his back rider before continuing the chase, raising concerns about his judgment. Authorities later noted the rider appeared intoxicated while operating the motorcycle.

LTO-6 Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II ordered an immediate investigation after the video circulated online. The agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Unit found the rider liable for reckless driving under Section 48 of Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.

“Such conduct reflects a failure to exercise restraint, professionalism, and lawful demeanor expected of license holders,” Geduspan said in the resolution.

LTO-6 investigators said reckless driving does not require an actual collision, only behavior that endangers lives and property.

The rider’s prolonged pursuit, attempts to force the vehicle to stop, and aggressive actions on the road were enough to warrant sanctions, investigators said.

The probe also revealed that the rider ignored repeated attempts by his passenger to calm him down, choosing instead to continue the pursuit.

The rider was fined PHP 2,010 and faces a one-year revocation of his driver’s license, which has been placed under alarm pending settlement.

Section 48 of RA 4136 defines reckless driving as operating a motor vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Penalties range from fines to license suspension or revocation depending on the severity of the offense.

Geduspan reminded motorists that chasing another driver out of anger could result in the loss of their license.