Motorist told: Answer assault raps

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has given motorist Robert Blair Carabuena until Monday to answer the complaint filed against him for assaulting a traffic enforcer.

Lawyer Teofilo Guadiz III, director of the LTO-National Capital Region, earlier gave the Philip Morris executive until September to submit his counter-affidavit.

Carabuena failed to appear before Guadiz’s office last Friday despite having been summoned, saying he received two subpoenas.

The first subpoena was issued by Guadiz, who ordered Carabuena to appear before his office on Friday. Another subpoena was issued by lawyer Fernando Em, head of the LTO’s Intelligence and Investigation Division, who ordered Carabuena to appear supposedly last Monday.

Carabuena’s lawyer Caesar Ortega went to Guadiz’s office on Friday to clarify before whom they should appear. Carabuena was not with him.

Guadiz then explained that it was with his office that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority filed the complaint against Carabuena. Because of this, it is Guadiz’s office that has jurisdiction over the complaint.

Carabuena has been the subject of complaints for assaulting MMDA traffic enforcer Saturnino Fabros.

Lawyer Yves Gonzalez, head of the MMDA’s Traffic Discipline Office, has asked Guadiz to cancel Carabuena’s driver’s license.

Carabuena is also facing a separate criminal complaint before the Quezon City prosecutors’ office.