MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show cause order to the registered owner of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) involved in a recent viral road rage incident, where the driver was caught on video making an obscene hand gesture at another motorist.
The move comes in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to crack down on erring motorists, and is being carried out under the supervision of Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez.
LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II confirmed that the registered owner of the vehicle — a Mitsubishi Montero with license plate number NFG 9505 — has been summoned to appear before the agency and explain his side. The vehicle owner, a resident of Quezon City, is yet to be identified as the person driving the SUV during the incident.
The viral video, which circulated widely on Facebook, shows the SUV counterflowing along a road marked with double solid yellow lines, a clear traffic violation. The footage captures the SUV driver becoming visibly agitated after allegedly being blocked by another vehicle. The driver then confronts the motorist and makes a rude hand gesture, commonly referred to as the “dirty finger.” He was also seen threatening to get out of his vehicle.
According to Asec. Mendoza, the LTO was able to trace the vehicle’s ownership through its license plate number, as seen in the video.
“Verification from the LTO database revealed that the SUV was last registered on February 22, 2022, and has not been renewed since — a violation of the compulsory registration requirement under Section 5 of Republic Act No. 4136,” Mendoza said in a statement.
The LTO’s Intelligence and Investigation Division, led by Renante Melitante, has placed the vehicle under alarm status, preventing any transactions related to it while the investigation is ongoing.
The show cause order directed the vehicle’s registered owner to explain why he should not be penalized for multiple violations, including:
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Expired registration
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Reckless driving
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Disregarding traffic signs
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Obstructing traffic
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Being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle
Should the driver be confirmed, Mendoza stated that the individual’s driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days, in accordance with the LTO’s administrative procedures.
The LTO emphasized that the agency is committed to enforcing road discipline and holding accountable those who endanger public safety.
“This is part of our ongoing effort to promote responsible driving and restore order on our roads,” Mendoza said.
