LTO revokes license of ‘Superman stunt’ rider

Rico Akmad Buyawan (left) and motovlogger John Louie Arguelles collide before crashing into a concrete barrier in Barangay Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal on Jan. 26, 2025. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has revoked the driver's license of Buyawan for performing a dangerous stunt that led to the death of Arguelles and injury to several bystanders. —SCREENGRAB VIA PNA

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday said it has revoked the driver’s license of the motorcycle rider involved in the “Superman stunt” on Marilaque Highway in Tanay, Rizal, last month that left one person dead and several others injured.

“May this serve as a lesson to all our motorists, especially motorcycle riders, that it is not right to do these kinds of acts on public roads because you put the lives of other people in danger,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said in a statement.

The Jan. 26 accident, a video of which went viral on social media, involved Rico Akmad Buyawan and his friend, motovlogger John Louie Arguelles, who was killed when both rammed into a road barrier while performing the Superman stunt (mimicking a flying Superman on a running motorcycle) on a sharp bend of the Marilaque Highway. Their motorcycles hit at least six other people who were resting in the area.

Based on the investigation report by the LTO-Calabarzon headed by regional director Elmer Decena, Buyawan was found guilty of reckless driving and being an unauthorized person to operate a motor vehicle.