Driver in viral hit-and-run incident can still purchase car, LTO says 

Do you remember the hit-and-run incident that caught the attention of the nation a while ago? You know, the one that involved a security guard? Well, recently, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) says that the perpetrator, a man by the name of Jose Antonio Sanvicente, can still buy and register a new car. 

Jose Antonio Sanvicente during his appearance at a PNP presscon [Photo: PNA]

To clarify, the LTO did suspend Sanvicente’s driver’s license, and perpetually barred him from ever renewing or getting a driver’s license. But via a TeleRadyo segment, Romeo Vera Cruz, the current officer-in-charge of the LTO said that it is beyond the agency’s authority to prevent the man from buying a new vehicle.  

He then added that he (Sanvicente), may be chauffeured around by a driver, but the moment he is caught driving without a license, he of course would be apprehended by authorities. 

For those who aren’t aware of the context of this issue, a white crossover was caught on dashcam video from another vehicle running over a security guard in Mandaluyong City back in June 2022. As per the video, he did not stop to help the said victim and went on driving. 

Days later, the LTO revoked the suspect’s driver’s license, and during this time, a copy of a show-cause order identifying the man by name made the rounds on social media. Despite this, it took a while before the perpetrator showed up.  

Later in the month (June 15), he did surrender to the authorities and was even given airtime via a news conference held by the PNP. 

Way before that though, several cases were already filed against Sanvicente. Thes dates back to three apprehensions involving reckless driving back in 2010, 2015, and 2016.

A short summary of the incident in question [Video source: CNN Philippines]

Regarding the more recent June 2022 incident, the LTO has determined that Sanvicente violated the Section 55 of Republic Act 4136, otherwise known as the LTO Traffic Code. This specifically pertains to his failure to stop and aid the victim. 

Furthermore, the Mandaluyong City Police in particular also filed charges of frustrated murder and abandonment against Sanvicente. 

The PNP however, did not arrest the suspect as the course overseeing this case didn’t issue an order to do so. There’s also the fact that sufficient time had already elapsed after the said crime, and so an arrest that would fall under a “warrantless arrest” could no longer be made.  

For now, we can consider this case as “pending,” so we’ll have to wait for more updates. But how about you? What’s your opinion regarding the LTO’s latest statement? 

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