ILOILO City – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Western Visayas has issued a show cause order to a businessman following a vehicular accident in Barangay Seminaryo in Jaro district on Jan. 12.
The Toyota Hilux pickup being driven by Ryan Anthony Jugao Soliva, 41, hit a bingka (rice cake) kiosk near Jaro Plaza.
Two vendors were injured. Evelyn Nonay, 48, sustained abrasions and knee pain while Kiana Abarde reported pain in her left foot.
Both were treated at the West Visayas State University Medical Center.
Soliva faces a charge of reckless driving, a breach of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code (Republic Act 4136).
Show Cause Order
LTO Region 6 director Gaudioso Geduspan II issued a show cause order directing Soliva to submit within five days a sworn explanation justifying why his driver’s license should not be suspended or revoked.
Failure to comply will result in the case being resolved based on available evidence.
Responding police officers noticed a firearm in plain view inside Soliva’s vehicle.
A lawful search conducted in the presence of Soliva’s girlfriend and media representatives led to the seizure of a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol (loaded with eight rounds), a Walther Smith & Wesson .380 pistol (loaded with eight rounds), and an Eagle Arms Armalite M15A2 rifle with seven magazines and 221 rounds of ammunition.
The firearms are currently under police custody for verification.
Soliva’s arrest coincided with the start of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.
He thus faces charges for possession of unlicensed firearms during the election period before the City Prosecutor’s Office./PN
