By CESAR JOLITO III

The Land Transportation Office in the Negros Island Region (LTO-NIR) is set to issue separate show-cause orders against two registered owners and drivers of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) allegedly involved in a fuel-and-run incident.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, April 15, involved a vehicle that reportedly refueled at a gasoline station in Bacolod City’s Barangay Taculing and left without settling payment, based on initial findings from the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Unit.

LTO-NIR said the show-cause order will require the concerned parties to submit a verified explanation within five days upon receipt.

Authorities warned that failure to respond could lead to administrative sanctions, including the suspension or revocation of the driver’s license, as well as a possible hold order on the vehicle.

The act, if proven, may also constitute violations of Republic Act No. 4136 and expose those involved to potential criminal liability.

Meanwhile, a separate but similar incident was reported in Negros Occidental’s Talisay City in the early hours yesterday.

According to pump attendant Jo-bill Afloro, an SUV arrived at a gasoline station in Barangay 7 shortly after 4:00 a.m. and requested a full tank of diesel.

Afloro said he became suspicious during the transaction as the driver appeared to be in a hurry, kept the windows barely open, and had a license plate partially covered with plastic.

Despite his concerns, the attendant proceeded with the refueling, which reached more than 62 liters valued at over P7,700.

After the transaction, the driver allegedly sped off without paying.

Afloro said he managed to remove the plastic covering from the plate number as the vehicle fled.

The gasoline station management has yet to announce its next course of action, while the attendant appealed to the driver to take responsibility and settle the unpaid amount./CJ, WDJ