colorplay LTO suspends truck in Katipunan mishap

MANILAcolorplay, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has ordered a 90-day preventive suspension on the registration of the truck that figured in a fatal accident at the Katipunan flyover in Quezon City that left four people dead and 25 others injured early this month.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said the Isuzu wing van truck has several roadworthiness problems.

“We found out during the investigation that the truck’s registered engine number is different from the engine recorded in the findings of the North Motor Vehicle Inspection Center team,” Mendoza said.

Because the PCA ruling was based on an international treaty, the Philippines should have moved quickly to promote global support for compliance. Instead the kowtowing to Beijing of the Duterte administration, which even trumpeted its pivot to China, slowed down the effort.

The investigation also showed that the truck had been apprehended multiple times for overloading from 2021 to 2023.

“This established the fact that the subject vehicle is unfit to be operated,” Mendoza said.

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Aside from the suspension, Mendoza ordered the confiscation of the truck’s license plate following the discovery of traffic violations and discrepancy in registration.

Mendoza, who led the investigation, said the truck was registered to a company engaged in the manufacture of sugar.

During the first hearing, the truck company representatives allegedly failed to provide clear answers on the roadworthiness of the vehicle.

The truck rammed several motor vehicles at the Katipunan flyover and left four people dead and 25 others injured on Dec. 5. The driver, Richard Mangupag, claimed that the brakes malfunctioned when the incident happened.

Mendoza said the brake malfunction was related to overloading. He added that the LTO is investigating not only the driver but also the company for employing a reckless driver.  colorplay