No Mercy for Reckless Driver Who Killed ‘Petix Akean’

KAKIBO, Aklan- A fatal ride. A deadly counterflow. And now, a push to permanently revoke a driver’s license.

The Land Transportation Office Region VI (LTO-6) is seeking the permanent revocation of the driver’s license of 24-year-old Maynard Engaling after finding him administratively liable for reckless driving in the crash that killed moto vlogger and photographer Gerald Carel Roldan, better known online as “Petix Akean.”

In a five-page resolution dated Sept. 18, 2026, LTO-6 Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II recommended the perpetual revocation, on top of a fine under Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2014-01.

The ruling came less than three weeks after Roldan’s final ride ended in tragedy. It was around 4 p.m. on Aug. 30 along the national highway in Barangay Pudiot, Tangalan, Aklan.

Roldan was riding his gray motorcycle toward Poblacion, Tangalan. Coming the other way was Engaling on a black Kawasaki 1000cc.

Then came the collision.

Police cited CCTV footage showing five big bikes overtaking or counterflowing vehicles before they reached the crash site. Engaling was among them.

As the pack approached, Engaling veered into Roldan’s lane. Engaling tried to evade the oncoming bike, but it was too late. The two motorcycles slammed into each other in the slow lane, which was Roldan’s right of way.

Both riders were thrown onto the highway.

Roldan suffered severe injuries. He didn’t survive.

𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙮
The findings of the LTO-6 Intelligence and Investigation Unit weren’t built on hearsay. They rested on the police report, CCTV footage and sworn affidavits from riders who were there.

An eyewitness pointed to Engaling as the rider who kept overtaking and ended up in Roldan’s path. Another witness said he saw in his rear-view mirror that Engaling was out of his lane and appeared to be speeding.

Police investigators also found that the crash happened on a stretch marked with a solid white line, where overtaking is prohibited.

The Intelligence and Investigation Unit ruled that the evidence was enough, stating that Engaling was shown as reckless.

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟵𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿
Right after the fatal road crash, Director Geduspan slapped Engaling with a 90-day preventive suspension while the case was being investigated.

That was only the start.

After weighing the evidence and the respondents’ defenses, Director Geduspan issued the Sept. 18 resolution recommending the ultimate administrative penalty: permanent revocation. He found that Engaling’s conduct endangered the public and that his encroachment into Roldan’s lane caused the fatal collision.

Engaling, in his affidavit, had argued that the official investigation was still ongoing and that he hadn’t been given a final Traffic Accident Investigation Report.

But administrative cases require only substantial evidence, not proof beyond reasonable doubt. The CCTV footage, police report and sworn statements were enough.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚
There’s a bitter irony in Roldan’s death. He wasn’t just another rider. He was a moto vlogger, photographer and road-safety advocate who used his platform to preach discipline, responsibility and safer driving. He also backed LTO road safety campaigns and initiatives.

On Aug. 30, unfortunately, the danger he spent years warning other motorists about caught up with him.

Director Geduspan, with LTO Kalibo District Office Chief Engr. Marlon Velez and Atty. Seymour Pulvera, recently visited Roldan’s wake to personally extend condolences to his family. The LTO-6 Chief called the death an “ultimate sacrifice.” Roldan is set to be laid to rest on Sept. 21.

𝘼𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨
The case didn’t stop at Engaling. Another rider, who gave a sworn statement on the incident, was also found liable for overspeeding and reckless driving. Video showed him clocking 113 kph, far above the 80 kph limit on that road. He was ordered to pay fines under JAO 2014-01.

With permanent revocation being sought for Engaling’s license, and fines for another rider, Director Geduspan reiterates his warning to motorists that reckless driving has consequences and that road safety is not optional.