On June 23, a video of a passenger being flung out of an aggressively swerving jeepney went viral. The footage reached the Land Transportation Office, which has since issued a show-cause order (SCO) for the jeepney driver.
Now, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has stepped in, suspending the passenger jeepney as further investigations commence. The preventive suspension is effective for 30 days while the operator responds to the LTFRB’s own SCO.
LTFRB chairman Vigor Mendoza reminded public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers that passenger safety is their responsibility, saying: “PUVs are neither built nor approved to operate for car racing. As PUV drivers, it is always incumbent upon you to prioritize the safety of your passengers at all times.”
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The LTFRB also reminded PUV operators that they are mandated to guarantee the roadworthiness of their units and ensure they do not employ reckless drivers. The jeepney operator will be required to explain in writing why his unit’s authority to operate should not be suspended or cancelled.
The operator was also directed to surrender the license plate of the unit and subject his driver to a mandatory drug test and road-safety seminar. “We will not tolerate this kind of reckless behavior by the driver and will make sure that he learns his lesson from this incident,” added Mendoza.
