The Philippine Highway Patrol Group (HPG) has revealed that the SUV involved in a hit-and-run incident along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) may have been using a counterfeit license plate. Authorities are currently investigating the ownership and origin of the vehicle, as the fake plate complicates efforts to track down the driver.
The incident, which occurred earlier this week, left one person injured and sparked public outrage over road safety. The SUV collided with another vehicle before fleeing the scene. HPG officials stated that initial checks on the license plate number returned no matching records in the Land Transportation Office (LTO) database, raising suspicions of forgery.
"We are treating this as a serious violation. If the plate is indeed fake, the driver could face additional charges for falsification of documents," said an HPG spokesperson. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities reviewing CCTV footage and seeking witnesses to identify the SUV and its occupant.