The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO 7) has imposed a 90-day preventive suspension on the driver’s license of a 62-year-old motorist involved in a collision that left a Cebu City traffic enforcer seriously injured.
The LTO 7 order, signed by Regional Director Atty. Wendel Dinglasan, also required the driver to appear before the agency and submit a sworn explanation as part of the ongoing administrative proceedings.
The action came a day after the July 1 incident at the Escario Street–Osmeña Boulevard intersection, where a Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) traffic enforcer was struck and run over while managing traffic flow.
LTO 7 directed the 62-year-old driver from Toledo City to appear before its Operations Division in Cebu City at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 6.
He was also instructed to submit a verified explanation and supporting documents to justify why sanctions should not be imposed.
The agency placed the Isuzu MU-X involved in the incident under alarm status, effectively blocking any transactions involving the vehicle pending resolution of the case.
Based on CCTV footage cited by the LTO, the SUV initially stopped after being signaled by the traffic enforcer but later moved forward without clearance.
Authorities said the vehicle hit the enforcer, causing him to fall, before the SUV ran over him instead of stopping to render assistance.
The LTO said the circumstances may constitute grounds for determining whether the driver is an “improper person to operate a motor vehicle” under Section 27 of Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, as amended, and possible liability for reckless driving under Section 48 of the same law.
It clarified that the administrative case is separate from any criminal or civil proceedings that may arise from the same incident.
Failure to appear at the scheduled hearing or submit the required explanation will allow the agency to decide the case based on available records, the LTO added.
Police are separately preparing more serious criminal complaints against the driver.
Traffic Enforcement Unit investigator Police Staff Sergeant Jacinto Arnado said authorities are now set to file charges of direct assault with attempted homicide, instead of the earlier reckless imprudence complaint.
Investigators said traffic enforcer Jovanne Verano was directing vehicles at around 8:30 a.m. on July 1 when he signaled the SUV to stop, before moving toward the center of the intersection to manage congestion.
The vehicle initially complied but allegedly accelerated after the enforcer turned away, striking him and running over his left hand.
Verano sustained serious injuries and was taken to Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital for treatment.
The driver earlier denied intentionally fleeing the scene.
CCTO head Raquel Arce said the motorist claimed he accidentally lifted his foot off the brake pedal of his automatic transmission vehicle without shifting to neutral or park, causing it to move forward unexpectedly.
Despite the explanation, Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña said authorities will pursue charges, stressing that the enforcer was performing official duties at the time of the incident.
Photo courtesy of Context News
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