PSA: Pretend to be the HPG and You Will Get Your License Revoked

All sorts of things go viral these days. Over the past few months alone, several prominent motoring-related incidents have made headlines after making the rounds on cyberspace.

One video that recently went viral on Facebook showed what appeared to be a member of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group escorting a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado; the two vehicles were counterflowing to avoid crawling through heavy traffic in Silang, Cavite, according to GMA. 

Well, the Land Transportation Office has now taken action against the drivers of the two vehicles. Both of them will have their driver's licenses revoked, and both will also be fined a significant sum for the traffic violations.

The rider—who apparently wasn't even a member of the PNP-HPG—was identified as Michael Inocentes and was charged with "failure to attach authorized motor-vehicle license plate" and "failure to carry OR/CR." He was fined P8,000 in total.

The driver of the SUV was identified as Roi Vincent Toledo. He was charged for obstruction of traffic and reckless driving. He was fined P3,000. Meanwhile, a certain Erwin Pijana—the formal owner of the SUV—was ordered to change the ownership of the vehicle to his name within 20 days. Failure to comply will result in the vehicle being placed on alarm.

"Buong puwersa ding ipapatupad ng LTO ang batas laban sa mga lumabag, anuman ang antas o posisyon sa lipunan, partikular ang mga nagpapanggap na person of authority," said LTO chief Teofilo Guadiz III.