License of viral overspeeding driver revoked; over 600 suspended due to road crash, drug use

Metro Manila, Philippines - The license of the bus driver filmed overspeeding in La Union was revoked, while over 670 drivers were preventively suspended during the Holy Week, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said.

Dizon made the announcement on Wednesday, April 23, as the government pushes a crackdown on unroadworthy vehicles, following successive accidents in the past weeks.

Last week, a video of passengers panicking inside a bus in La Union due to an overspeeding driver went viral.

“Pasensyahan tayo. Inabuso mo ang pribilehiyo ng binigay sayo ng gobyerno. Sinayang mo ang pribilehiyong ito na kumita sa pagmamaneho ng bus,” said Dizon.

[Translation: Sorry. You abused the privilege given to you by the government. You wasted this privilege of earning a living as a bus driver.]

The transportation chief said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board also summoned the bus operator, ELS Bus Company.

He warned more drivers may suffer the same fate.

“There will be more of these undisciplined drivers that will be losing their licenses and we are sending a strong message to everyone lalo na sa nagpapatakbo ng PUVs (those driving public utility vehicles.)

Meanwhile, the LTO said over 570 drivers were suspended due to road crashes during the Holy Week, while 97 others were slapped with suspension after they were found positive in a random drug test.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza said nearly half of the involved vehicles in the accidents were motorcycles.

A show cause order, meanwhile, was issued to over 1,100 drivers, after failing to pass a road worthiness check.