LAND Transportation Office (LTO) chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza 2nd suspended the license of a truck driver involved in a fatal road accident in Pampanga that left four minor siblings dead.

Mendoza said the driver’s license will be suspended until the completion of the investigation being conducted by the LTO-Central Luzon headed by Regional Director Ronnie Montejo.

Montejo said a show cause order was issued against the driver who is a resident of Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental.

According to the report of the local police forwarded to the LTO-Central Luzon, all the victims were on board a “kolong-kolong” (a type of tricycle being used for loading of materials) driven by their father when the incident happened at 10:30 p.m. on November 22 in Barangay Manibaug Pasig, Porac, Pampanga.

The kolong-kolong was in the middle of the road and waiting for its chance to turn left when it was rammed by the truck from behind.

The said tricycle was driven by Edmond Canlapan who was with his four children ages 2-10.

Two of the children died on the spot while the two others succumbed to serious injuries in a hospital.

“We always remind our motorists, especially the drivers of large vehicles, to exercise extreme caution because lives are at stake on the road,” said Mendoza.

“The entire LTO family extends its condolences to the families of the deceased children, and they can be assured that we will closely monitor the investigation in the interest of justice. No one desires such incidents, but accountability is necessary as the lives of four minors were suddenly lost in this occurrence,” he added.

Mendoza said an initial report and action of the LTO has been forwarded to the office of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

Porac Mayor Jaime Capil pledged the local government’s help to the family of the victims.

Capil added that he would also communicate with barangay (village) officials in the concerned areas to set up measures to prevent further road accidents.