LTO revokes license of drunk driver who counterflowed in EDSA busway

MANILA: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Wednesday announced that the license of the driver caught counterflowing along the EDSA busway while under the influence of alcohol has been revoked. Christopher De Vera, who was driving a sports utility vehicle, was flagged down by operatives of the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation along EDSA Guadalupe on July 28. "Nag-conduct ng sariling investigation ang LTO and ang result po (The LTO has conducted its own investigation and the result) is Mr. De Vera was declared as (an) improper person to operate a motor vehicle. His license was already revoked and he was also cited for disregarding traffic sign(s) and obstruction of traffic," LTO Director Francis Ray Almora told the Senate Committee on Public Services. Senator Raffy Tulfo, who chairs the panel, commended LTO's action after calling for the suspension of De Vera's driver's license. "It's more than what I am expecting," he said. However, Tulfo also demanded the suspension of th e operatives who drove De Vera home after flagging him down, including the two police officers who responded and decided not to arrest the violator. Meanwhile, Tulfo proposed passing Senate Bill 1976, or the Fair Traffic Apprehension Act, which seeks to compensate motor vehicle drivers wrongfully apprehended for traffic violations, covering incidental expenses, moral damages suffered by the driver, and lost wages. The bill also seeks to impose administrative sanctions against traffic enforcers who err in apprehending motorists to prevent the future abuse of authority and enhance transparency and accountability within the country's traffic enforcement system. Source: Philippines News agency