As driver’s license holders, we all know that driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the most serious traffic offenses any driver could make. The law is clear about the consequences that await motorists who choose to get behind the wheel (or handlebars) after a drinking session.

That’s exactly what one SUV driver is now facing after the Land Transportation Office (LTO) found that he failed an Alcohol Breath Analyzer (ABA) test, following a recent road crash in Marikina City. The incident resulted in the death of a motorcycle rider, who is also a school teacher.

According to the LTO’s report, the driver recorded a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.410%, indicating that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

For context, Non-Professional driver’s license holders in the Philippines are only allowed a maximum BAC of 0.05% under Republic Act No. 10586, or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013, making the driver’s reported 0.410% BAC more than eight times the legal limit. Professional driver’s license holders, meanwhile, are required to have 0.00% BAC. Medical references also consider BAC levels around 0.40% to be potentially life-threatening, with many people at risk of losing consciousness or experiencing respiratory failure.

Because of this, the LTO immediately issued a Show Cause Order (SCO). The driver has been ordered to appear before the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) on July 8, 2026, where he must explain why he should not be held liable for Reckless Driving and Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol or Narcotic Drug.

The agency also wants the driver to explain why he should not be declared an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle. If the LTO finds sufficient grounds after its investigation, it may suspend or even permanently revoke his driver’s license.

Pending the outcome of the case, the driver’s license has already been placed under a 90-day preventive suspension, and he has been ordered to surrender it to the LTO. The SUV involved in the incident has likewise been placed under alarm, preventing any transactions involving the vehicle while the investigation is ongoing.

The LTO identified the driver as the son of a vice mayor. Lacanilao maintained that no one is above the law, saying the LTO will hold all violators accountable regardless of their status or political connections. He said the agency remains committed to enforcing traffic laws equally and preventing road crashes caused by irresponsible motorists.

The LTO’s administrative case is only one part of the driver’s legal troubles. He could also face criminal charges under Republic Act No. 10586, depending on the findings of investigators and any case that may be filed in court. If prosecutors are able to prove the elements of the offense under the law, the penalties go far beyond losing driving privileges.

Under RA 10586, a drunk driver involved in a road crash that results in another person’s death may, if convicted, face imprisonment under the Revised Penal Code’s penalty for homicide, a fine ranging from PHP 300,000 to PHP 500,000, and the suspension or revocation of the driver’s license, depending on the driver’s license classification and the outcome of both the criminal and administrative proceedings.