ILOILO — A dump truck driver who allegedly endangered motorists and government enforcers during a reckless, multi-town highway chase in Iloilo now faces permanent revocation of his driver’s license, as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6 moves to hold him accountable for a dangerous escape attempt that was caught on video and went viral on social media.
LTO-6 regional director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of the driver’s license and issued a Show Cause Order (SCO) requiring him to explain why he should not face permanent disqualification from driving and other penalties under the law.
The driver has five working days from receipt of the order to submit a verified written explanation. Failure to comply will be considered a waiver of his right to be heard, allowing the LTO to decide the administrative case based on available evidence.
The incident occurred on October 10, 2026, during a joint monitoring, inspection and checkpoint operation conducted by the Iloilo Provincial Anti-Overloading Task Force and Bantay Dalan personnel in the municipalities of New Lucena and Zarraga.
According to police reports, enforcement personnel initially flagged down the heavy dump truck over suspected violations of provincial regulations on illegal quarrying activities and mineral transport.
Instead of stopping, the driver allegedly ignored repeated manual and audible signals from authorities, accelerated and attempted to escape.
What followed was a dangerous highway pursuit that reportedly placed the lives of motorists, pedestrians and government enforcers at risk.
Dashcam and eyewitness videos circulating on social media showed the truck repeatedly swerving across traffic lanes, aggressively overtaking other vehicles and allegedly forcing approaching and adjacent motorists off the road.
The driver was also accused of deliberately steering the massive vehicle toward pursuing government enforcers in an apparent attempt to ram or intimidate them into abandoning the chase.
The pursuit ended in Barangay Dawis Sur, Zarraga, where the driver reportedly attempted a sudden U-turn, partially obstructing the roadway.
He subsequently pulled the truck onto the road shoulder, escaped through the passenger-side door and fled on foot, leaving the heavy vehicle unattended.
The widely circulated footage prompted LTO-6 to initiate administrative proceedings against the driver.
“The order was issued to protect the public while formal administrative and criminal proceedings remain ongoing,” said Geduspan.
The driver was also directed to surrender his physical driver’s license to the LTO regional office immediately upon service of the suspension notice.
“The chase, captured on video that went viral on social media, has prompted the Land Transportation Office Region VI to place the driver’s license under a 90-day preventive suspension while the Intelligence and Investigation Unit investigates,” LTO-6 stressed in a statement.
The agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Unit has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive investigation, including verification of the truck’s registered owner and operating permits.
The investigation will also determine the driver’s administrative liability arising from the reported dangerous maneuvers during the pursuit.
LTO-6 cited possible violations of Section 48 of Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, which prohibits reckless driving.
“The order cited possible reckless driving under Section 48 of Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, noting that the reported maneuvers may have endangered people and property,” LTO stressed.
Under the law, reckless driving involves operating a motor vehicle without reasonable caution, thereby endangering lives and property. Violations may result in fines, suspension or permanent revocation of driving privileges, depending on the circumstances and applicable penalties.
The preventive suspension does not constitute a final determination of guilt, as the driver remains entitled to answer the allegations through the administrative process.
However, the case has placed renewed attention on the dangers posed by heavy vehicles whose drivers allegedly defy lawful inspection orders and engage in reckless maneuvers on public highways.
With video footage and police incident reports forming part of the evidence, LTO-6 will determine whether the driver’s conduct warrants the permanent loss of his privilege to operate a motor vehicle.
The agency emphasized that the administrative proceedings would continue even if the driver failed to respond to the Show Cause Order within the prescribed period./PN
