• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region (LTO-NIR) Intelligence and Investigation Unit has launched an investigation into alleged passenger harassment inside a public utility vehicle in Brgy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod City.
Show-cause orders were already issued to the operator, United Negros Transport Cooperative (Unetco), as well as the driver and conductor of modernized jeepney CBE 7265 following the Sept. 14 incident, the agency said.
The probe focuses on allegations of body shaming, verbal abuse, and passenger intimidation.
Unetco, in response, placed the driver and conductor under a 30-day preventive suspension while the matter is being reviewed.
LTO-NIR said its official administrative investigation continues, independent of the transport cooperative’s internal disciplinary measures.
“Let this serve as a stern warning to all drivers, conductors, and public utility operators across the Negros Island Region. This office will never tolerate any form of verbal abuse within our public transportation system,” the LTO-NIR stressed in a statement.
It added that findings from the probe could lead to administrative penalties, including the suspension or permanent revocation of the driver’s license, and sanctions on the vehicle’s registration. | TMD
