LTO issues show cause order against motorcycle rider over child passenger without helmet

• The LTO issued a Show Cause Order against a motorcycle's registered owner and rider after a video showed a young girl riding without a helmet and struggling to reach the foot peg
• The rider was ordered to appear before the agency's Intelligence and Investigation Division on October 13, 2026, to respond to the allegations and submit the required documents
• The rider faces a 90-day preventive suspension of their driver's license, while the motorcycle has been placed under alarm pending the investigation
• LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao stressed that riders must prioritize children's safety and comply with road safety regulations before traveling

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a Show Cause Order (SCO) against the registered owner and rider of a motorcycle after a video showed a young girl traveling without a helmet and struggling to reach the vehicle's foot peg.

As part of its response to the incident, the agency ordered the individuals involved to appear before its Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) at the LTO Central Office on East Avenue, Quezon City, on October 13, 2026. They must submit sworn statements and the necessary original documents to address the allegations.

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The rider's driver's license will also be placed under a 90-day preventive suspension. The rider has been instructed to surrender the license to the IID for the appropriate proceedings. Meanwhile, authorities have placed the motorcycle under alarm while the investigation continues.

According to the LTO, the video showed the child riding as a passenger without wearing a helmet and having difficulty reaching the motorcycle's foot peg. The agency warned that these circumstances could expose the young passenger to danger while traveling on public roads.

The violations cited in the SCO include the Safety of Children Aboard Motorcycles, Mandatory Use of Motorcycle Helmets, Reckless Driving, and Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle. The LTO also noted that further liabilities could be identified as investigators examine the incident.

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao emphasized that riders must not compromise the safety of children just to continue their journeys.

“Hindi dapat isinasantabi ang kaligtasan ng bata para lamang maipagpatuloy ang biyahe. Responsibilidad ng bawat rider na tiyaking ligtas ang kanilang angkas, lalo na kung bata ang sakay,” Lacanilao said.

The official further highlighted the importance of ensuring that young passengers can ride safely and that all required precautions are observed before a motorcycle enters the road.

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“Kung hindi kayang maabot ng bata ang foot peg at wala pa itong helmet, malinaw na nalalagay sa panganib ang kaligtasan nito. Kailangang maging responsable ang bawat rider at tiyaking nasusunod ang mga alituntunin bago bumiyahe,” he added.

The LTO's investigation remains ongoing as the agency determines the appropriate accountability for the incident.

In another report, a man was injured after being attacked by seven to 10 individuals at a plaza in Dueñas, Iloilo. Footage of the incident showed several men surrounding the victim and kicking him repeatedly. Initial police information revealed that the man had gone to the area to confront someone who allegedly hurt his sibling.

Meanwhile, a man died after being shot outside a school in Barangay Prinza, Teresa, Rizal, on Thursday afternoon. According to GMA News' “Unang Balita,” the victim was shot in the head at around 4 p.m., prompting authorities to launch a manhunt for the suspect, who reportedly fled after the attack. A video that circulated online showed the victim lying on the ground while his live-in partner stayed beside him, carrying their infant child.

Source: KAMI.com.gh