Mendoza says Angkas CEO also liable to motorcade traffic incident in Cainta
Earlier this month, a traffic incident involving Angkas motorcycle riders stopping to flow of traffic in Cainta has been caught on video and has since become viral on social media. The Land Transportation Office (LTO), headed by Assistant Secretary, Atty. Vigor Mendoza II has ordered a probe into the incident, which resulted in a 90-day preventive suspension of the driver’s license of Angkas CEO and Partylist candidate, George Royeca.
Now, you may be wondering why the LTO suspended Royeca’s driver’s license even though he’s not one of the riders who acted as if they were deputized traffic enforcers by commanding the flow of traffic? According to Asec. Mendoza, the Angkas head honcho can be considered as an “accessory” to the commission of the traffic violation.
Screenshot from VISOR
Sec. 27 (a), RA 4136
In a recent interview on a radio program on DWIZ with hosts Jon Ibañez and Jopel Pelenio, Asec. Mendoza said that Royeca can be considered an “accessory” to the traffic violation because he may have been involved in the planning, as well as preparation, and execution of the traffic offense.
“Parang ganun na po yun kasi, under Republic Act 4136, yung accessory to the offense, kahit hindi ka mismo andoon, pero ikaw ay kasama sa pagpa-plano, paghahanda, at pagpapatupad ng offense na yun ay pwede ho kayo na masangkot, pwede rin kayo ma-penalize,” said Mendoza.
(It’s like that because, under RA 4136, the accessory to the offense, even though you’re not physically there but are involved in the planning, preparation, and execution of the traffic offense, you can be involved and can be penalized.)
Actually, Asec. Mendoza is referring to Section 27 (a) of RA 4136 which says “The Commissioner may suspend for a period not exceeding three months or, after hearing, revoke any driver's license issued under the provisions of this Act, and may order any such license to be delivered to him whenever he has reason to believe that the holder thereof is an improper person to operate motor vehicles, or in operating or using a motor vehicle in, or as an accessory to, the commission of any crime or act which endangers the public. Any deputy of the Commissioner may, for the same cause, suspend for a period not exceeding three months any driver's license issued under the provisions of this Act: Provided, That such suspension may be appealed to the Commissioner who may, after reviewing the case, confirm, reverse or modify the action taken by such deputy.”
Asec. Mendoza added that this is the first time that the LTO had someone who took responsibility of a traffic violation for another person or persons, and on top of that voluntarily surrendered his driver’s license. “Unprecedented po ito noh, wala pa ho kaso ang LTO na may ganyan kusa na tinatanggap ng responsibilidad. This is the first time but then again, the law is very clear on this: even accessory people, yung mga sumali lang o kung hindi naman sumama lang sa plano, eh kasama po sa penalty.”
Asec. Mendoza also made it clear that there is an ongoing investigation and all the riders involved will be penalized under existing laws.
