Trigger warning: Mention of dead animal
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show cause order (SCO) against the registered owner and driver of a vehicle that stopped along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to help a dead animal from the road on Feb. 26, 2026.
In a viral video posted by the Facebook page “Cosh’s Chiquitings,” a passenger is seen alighting from the vehicle after it stopped in the middle of the expressway, to pick up a dead animal lying on the road and throw it over the bridge.
While some netizens described the act as compassionate, authorities said the sudden stop posed a serious risk to other motorists using the expressway.
According to the LTO, the act may constitute violations of traffic laws, including reckless driving and obstruction of traffic.
The agency directed the registered owner and the driver to appear before the LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) at the agency’s office on East Avenue in Quezon City on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 11 a.m.
They were also ordered to submit a “verified or sworn comment or explanation,“ along with relevant documents, to address the allegations and explain why the driver should not face administrative charges for the violation of Reckless Driving under Sec. 48 of Republic Act 4136 and Obstruction of Traffic under Section 54 of the same law.
Authorities will also determine why the driver should not face penalties such as suspension or revocation of his license, or be disqualified for being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle under Section 27(a) of R.A. 4136, as amended.
Based on the issued SCO, the driver’s license will be temporarily suspended for 90 days while the investigation is ongoing. The vehicle involved in the incident has also been placed under “alarm“ status while he is further directed “to surrender his driver’s license on the day of the scheduled hearing.“
“Failure to submit the required comment/explanation within the specified period shall be construed as a waiver of your right to submit the same, and the preliminary investigation may be completed based on the existing and available records. You may opt to be assisted by a legal counsel,” the LTO said.
