LTO suspends licenses of 2 men in road rage
SHOOTING VICTIM A screengrab from a viral video of a road altercation in Antipolo City on Sunday shows the suspect, Kenneth, carrying a woman into his sport utility vehicle, after he shot her and several others. He was later arrested by the police. —screengrab photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday suspended for 90 days the driving licenses of the sport utility vehicle (SUV) driver and one of three motorcycle riders involved in a road altercation in Antipolo City that led to a shooting, leaving four people wounded.
LTO-Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) head Renante Melitante also issued a show cause order (SCO) against the SUV driver and motorcycle riders as part of the LTO’s investigation into the incident that happened on Sunday. Their identities were not disclosed by the agency. The vehicles involved in the road altercation, the SUV and one of the motorcycles, were likewise placed under alarm.
LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said the results of the investigation would determine the possible actions to be taken against the SUV and motorcycle drivers.
READ: One of Antipolo road rage victims now dead – police
Authorities identified the SUV driver as Kenneth, a 28-year-old businessman, who was arrested after he fired a gun and wounded four people, one of them his wife, following a traffic dispute with a motorcycle rider in front of a coffee shop on Marcos Highway.
Viral videos
Based on the videos posted online that shortly went viral, Kenneth engaged in a fistfight with the motorcycle rider before pulling out his gun and firing several rounds, leaving four people wounded.
He fled from the scene on his black Toyota Fortuner, but the police caught up with him after a chase that ended at a border checkpoint along Masinag in Barangay Mayamot.
Kenneth has since been placed in police custody and will face multiple homicide charges in addition to violation of BP (Batas Pambansa BLG) 881 or the Omnibus Election Code. Authorities recovered a 9mm pistol registered under the suspect’s name, but he failed to present the required documents.
The Commission on Elections has imposed a nationwide gun ban for the May 12 elections.
One of the shooting victims, a 52-year-old motorcycle rider, was in critical condition and underwent surgery. His 22-year-old son was hit in the right arm while a bystander who tried to intervene was shot in the chest.
They were all rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment.
Arresting cops cited
Eight policemen from the Antipolo Component City Police Station who helped arrest Kenneth were awarded the Medalya ng Kagalingan (Medal of Merit) by Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil on Monday morning.
They were Lt. Orlando Santos; Chief Master Sergeant Rannel Cruz; Corporals Kaveen-John Vea, Joeban Abendaño and Niño Chavez; Patrolmen Reylan de Chavez, Michael Keith Panganiban and John Marc Manahan.
“Our police officers’ quick response prevented further harm and ensured that the suspect was immediately brought to justice. This is the kind of professionalism and dedication that the PNP upholds. We remain committed to protecting our communities and ensuring that justice prevails,” Marbil said.
