LTO: Ingco’s Maserati not registered

MANILA, Philippines - Businessman Joseph Russel Ingco’s blue Maserati Ghibli sports car was unregistered when his run-in with traffic enforcer Jorbe Adriatico happened last week, the Land Transportation Office said yesterday. 

“When we checked our database, the car was still not registered at that time,” LTO spokesman Jason Salvador said in an interview. 

As this developed, the LTO started its investigation on the complaint filed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, asking to revoke the license of Ingco, over his actions when he allegedly roughed up Adriatico last week. 

“We have already placed the license of Mr. Ingco under alarm while awaiting the results of the investigation,” Salvador said. 

According to Salvador, they are checking if Ingco could be held liable for reckless driving and commission of a crime in the course of apprehension. 

He noted that based on Adriatico’s complaint, Ingco continued driving while punching the traffic enforcer, thus, endangering his life, that of Adriatico and those of other motorists and persons on the road. 

Salvador said these violations, if proven during the investigation, carries a maximum penalty – the revocation of Ingco’s driver’s license.

No grounds

Ingco’s lawyer, Edgar Padernal, said there was no ground to revoke his client’s license since he has not been convicted of any crime.

As for the reckless driving charge, Padernal said Ingco could not have been driving recklessly since he was not even speeding when he drove his Maserati as he punched Adriatico, supposedly so the traffic enforcer would let go of him.

Padernal said Ingco was “compelled” to drive only because he needed to get away from Adriatico’s grip.

He also said Ingco cannot be held accountable for the failure to register the sports car, as he had signed all the papers needed for the process – the responsibility to register the car lies with Maserati’s local distributor, from which Ingco bought his Ghibli.