The City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) said it is set to file charges against the driver in the viral video, who tried multiple times to evade a traffic enforcer.

CTTMO Head Dionisio Abude said on Tuesday that the driver issued a statement defending his actions.

The driver, identified as Ramil, a 42-year old resident of Roseville, Lanang Davao City, claimed he had no intention to evade the enforcer.

But Abude said the enforcer issued a statement saying he flagged down the vehicle after the driver took a shortcut on a road not intended for traffic along Torres St. He said that the video also contradicted the driver’s claim. It showed he was trying to evade even if the enforcer was already preventing his vehicle from moving forward.

He said the driver may face a penalty for reckless driving under the Traffic Code, a criminal complaint for trying to harm the enforcer, and penalties for violating his driver’s license’s instruction, as issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO)

The LTO will issue a show-cause order,” he said, adding that the Sta. Ana Police station will investigate the matter further.

Abude reminded drivers that a traffic violation is not the same level as criminal violation and they can always question and contest the violation as claimed by enforcers.

“Dili mani criminal ang traffic violation kung dili tama pwede man ka mu-contest, in this case wala gyud siya nihunong (A traffic violation is not a criminal offense, if the apprehension is done wrongly you can contest it, in this case the driver failed to stop), he said.

Abude also added that if they find that enforcers committed wrong acts, they will remove them but if they do things the right way, they will defend them. CIO