LTO: Nothing wrong in not revoking Carabuena's license

MANILA, Philippines - The chief of the Land Transportation Office on Monday said there was nothing irregular in the decision not to revoke the license of Robert Blair Carabuena.

Assistant Secretary Virginia Torres maintained the complaint filed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority against Carabuena was for assaulting traffic constable Saturnino Fabros.

“That’s a criminal offense that should be under a criminal court. Ours is only administrative in nature. If the court decides against Carabuena (in the separate assault case) and we’re told by the court to revoke his license, we will do so,” Torres told The STAR in an interview.

“The (MMDA) complaint never mentioned of any violation of traffic rules,” Torres added.

Torres was reacting to a statement made by LTO-Region I director Teofilo Guadiz III that the agency may have erred in not revoking Carabuena’s license.

Guadiz, former director of the LTO-National Capital Region, earlier ordered Carabuena’s license suspended last September. It was before Guadiz’s office that the MMDA first filed the complaint against Carabuena until the complaint was transferred to the central office.

Torres said the complaint for assault was not covered by the grounds for revocation of the license.

“It was seen in the video that he (Carabuena) assaulted Fabros. But what led to that?” she added.

Torres also added that the complaint for assault did not make Carabuena “unfit” nor “improper” to carry a license.

She explained that someone is “unfit” to carry a license if he or she has a medical condition that prevents the person from driving. Someone is “improper” to drive certain vehicles under conditions set forth in the license.