Sports car driver who overtook pres'l convoy gets P1K fine

MANILA, Philippines - The sports car driver who overtook the convoy of President Benigno Aquino III last April 14 along the Skyway got a P1,000 fine for reckless driving, according to the Land Transportation Office.

Director Mohammad Lamping, LTO Law Enforcement Service chief, also approved the recommendation of Roberto Valera, officer in charge of the Intelligence and Investigation Division, to have Jeffrey Roxas-Chua attend a seminar and take a required examination.

Valera also recommended the possible suspension of Roxas-Chua's driver's licence for failing to settle his apprehension over the traffic infraction.

According to reports, a policeman who flagged down Roxas-Chua issued him a ticket for reckless driving along the Skyway after overtaking several vehicles of Aquino's convoy, which included the car of the President himself.

When he learned that it was the presidential convoy, Roxas-Chua reportedly named-dropped Vice President Jejomar Binay and Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Binay had said that he did not know Roxas-Chua. The vice president even urged the authorities to file appropriate charges against the sports car driver.

Roxas-Chua had also denied the allegations against him.

"Whatever the media said that I said, is truly false. Have hard evidence to prove it (video). It's actually a very juicy video. I'm not the type to name-drop people I do not know," Roxas-Chua was quoted as saying in an article on the website of motoring magazine Top Gear.