Actor-businessman Derek Ramsay’s name has surfaced in a Land Transportation Office (LTO) investigation involving a supercar allegedly caught using an unauthorized license plate on public roads.
The LTO issued a show cause order against the vehicle’s registered owner and designated driver after its verification showed that the alphanumeric combination displayed on the supercar did not match its officially assigned license plate number.
While initial reports did not identify the actor involved, Ramsay was subsequently named in reports as the vehicle’s registered owner.
According to the LTO, however, the supercar had already been sold to another person but remained registered under Ramsay’s name. The agency did not identify the businessman who reportedly acquired the vehicle.
Ramsay is known as a car enthusiast with a collection of luxury and high-performance vehicles.
The registered owner and designated driver have been ordered to appear before the LTO’s Intelligence and Investigation Division and submit a verified or sworn explanation regarding the alleged use of the unauthorized plate.
The driver was also ordered to explain why his license should not be suspended or revoked on the ground of being an “improper person to operate a motor vehicle.”
Pending the investigation, the driver’s license was placed under a 90-day preventive suspension and ordered surrendered to the IID.
The supercar, identified in reports as a Porsche 918 Spyder, was also placed under alarm status, with the LTO’s Law Enforcement Service directed to impound the vehicle.
LTO chief Markus Lacanilao stressed that a person’s celebrity status or the value of the vehicle would not result in special treatment.
“Walang VIP sa pagpapatupad ng batas. Kahit sino pa ang sangkot, kapag napatunayang lumabag, haharap sa kaukulang pananagutan,” Lacanilao said.
“Walang palakasan, walang palusot, at walang exemption. Ang paggamit ng pekeng plaka at pag-iwas sa mga obligasyong dapat tuparin ay hindi pinapalampas ng LTO,” he added.
The issuance of a show cause order does not by itself constitute a finding that Ramsay or the driver committed the alleged violation, as they have been given an opportunity to submit their explanations to the agency.
As of writing, Ramsay has yet to publicly address the issue.
