DOTr warns vs. harassment to charge bus racing video uploader

Metro Manila, Philippines - The plan to file a case against the uploader of the viral bus racing video is harassment, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said, as he vowed to protect the concerned netizen.

The secretary responded to the statement of GV Florida Transport, Inc. to pursue a cyber libel case against the video uploader who showed six of the bus line units racing on a national highway in Cagayan.

“Harassment iyan. Klarong klaro. In fact, inutusan ko na ang LTFRB na talagang sabihan ang GV Florida na kung ipu-pursue niya yung kaso against doon sa kababayan na natin nag-upload eh makakabangga niya yung buong DOTr at buong gobyerno dito,” Dizon said.

[Translation: That’s harassment. It's very clear. In fact, I’ve already instructed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to tell GV Florida that if they pursue the case against our fellow citizen who uploaded the video, they’ll be going up against the entire DOTr and the whole government on this.]

He said the government will provide legal assistance to the video uploader.

The secretary also encouraged netizens to continue posting videos and photos of road abuse for proper action.

Dizon, meanwhile, dismissed the bus line’s claim that the video speed was adjusted.

“Kahit totoo man na sinasabing finast-forward ito, nakita natin iyong reckless at napakadelikadong ginagawa ng GV Florida,” he said.

[Translation: Even if it's true that it was fast-forwarded, we still saw the reckless and extremely dangerous actions of GV Florida.]

The agency has earlier revoked the license of some drivers in the bus racing video.

It also suspended 15 units of the bus line or those plying the routes of Santa Ana, Cagayan-Sampaloc, Manila and Baguio-Apayao for 30 days.