MANILA—A barangay service vehicle has gone viral on social media after it was seen carrying six passengers in its pickup bed, exceeding the normal capacity for this type of vehicle.

The pickup is designed for cargo only and is not equipped with seats or handholds for passengers, making riding in it extremely dangerous, especially on public roads.

In response, the Land Transportation Office (LTO), under LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus V. Lacanilao, issued a Show Cause Order (SCO) to the registered owner and driver of the vehicle.

Under the SCO, the owner and driver are required to report to the LTO’s Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) on January 28 at 1:00 p.m. and submit verified comments or an explanation regarding the incident. The driver must explain why they should not be held administratively liable for traffic violations such as reckless driving and improper person to operate a motor vehicle. Meanwhile, the driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days while the case is under investigation, and the vehicle will be placed under alarm status pending further inquiry.

Failure to appear before the IID will be considered a refusal to present their side, and the case will be decided based on the agency’s records.

In his statement, Asec. Lacanilao emphasized:
“Ito ay palagi ko sinasabi na ang kaligtasan ng mga pasahero at ng lahat ng gumagamit ng kalsada ay nasa unang priyoridad ng LTO. Ang pagpapasakay ng labis na bilang ng pasahero sa mga sasakyang hindi idinisenyo para rito ay isang seryosong paglabag na maaaring magdulot ng malubhang aksidente. Paulit-ulit kong ipapaalala sa lahat ng driver, sa pribado o gobyerno, na laging sumunod sa batas trapiko para sa kaligtasan ng lahat.”