Over the weekend, a video depcting a Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) truck scraping past a double-parked sedan went viral. The BFP vehicle was on its way to respond to a fire that broke out at Barangay Bangkal in Makati.
Now, the LTO has followed up on the incident by issuing a show cause order on the sedan’s owner on allegations of Parking in Prohibited Places and Obstruction of Traffic. The owner has been ordered to appear before the agency to turn in his statement on these offenses, as well as to surrender his driver’s license to be put under a 90-day preventive suspension.
Watch: Viral video of fire truck hitting double-parked sedan
Majority of the reactions online have taken the side of the BFP, saying that the onwer is simply facing the consequences of obstructing emergency services. This sentiment is echoed by LTO chief Markus Lacanilao, who said “Bawat segundo ay mahalaga para sa ating mga fire officers. Hindi dapat maging dahilan ang anumang paglabag o kapabayaan sa kalsada upang maantala ang kanilang pagresponde.”
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The LTO ended its statement by calling on all motorists to be responsible and avoid illegal parking—which includes double-parking on narrow residential roads. Especially in cases like the one in question today, the cost of delaying emergency services by imporperly parking your car could be the safety of others.
Watch: POV of first responders hitting double-parked sedan
The sedan’s owner reportedly requested for compensation from the BFP to cover the damage his vehicle sustained. The bureau denied the owner, again pointing out that his vehicle was illegaly parked and obstructed first responders from making their way to an active emergency.
The sedan owner has yet to release a public statement on the incident.
