• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Two separate ‘fuel-and-run’ incidents involving white SUVs were recorded in Negros Occidental this week, prompting the Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region (LTO-NIR) to probe the back-to-back cases.
The first incident occurred on April 15 at a gasoline station in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City, when a white Nissan Terra fled the premises after taking on fueling worth P6,000.
While the agency has identified the registered owner of the vehicle, the identity of the driver at the time of the incident remains under investigation.
A second incident was reported in Barangay 7, Talisay City, during the early hours of April 17.
A pump attendant said in an interview with the RMN DYHB Bacolod that a white SUV driver made off with over 62 liters of diesel, valued at approximately P7,700.
The attendant noted that the driver appeared to be in a hurry and had intentionally obscured the vehicle’s license plate with plastic, though the covering was reportedly removed as the vehicle sped away.
Regional Director Jeck Conlu stated that the LTO is currently serving a Show Cause Order to the identified owner in the Bacolod case, requiring a written explanation within five days.
Penalties for such actions under Republic Act No. 4136 may include the suspension or revocation of a driver’s license and a hold order on the vehicle.
The LTO is now evaluating whether the similarity in the vehicles and the timing of the events indicates a recurring pattern.
This marks the second and third fuel-and-run incident recorded in the region this year, following a similar case on February 27 in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.
In a statement, the LTO-NIR urged the public to report similar incidents as it continues to enforce road discipline and accountability.*
