BINI fans accused of putting Mikha Lim above road safety

BINI member Mikha Lim is facing criticism over two issues following a controversial livestream: her apparent disregard for road safety and the reaction of fans who urged others to delete footage of the incident instead of calling out the behavior.

The backlash has prompted netizens to call on the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to hold the singer accountable, while others questioned whether her celebrity status and influence over young fans were being given more consideration than the safety of other road users.

Clips from Mikha’s November 10 Weverse livestream circulated online, appearing to show her using her cellphone while driving and briefly taking both hands off the steering wheel.

Fans’ response draws backlash

The footage showed the singer recording herself inside a moving vehicle. In one portion, she appeared to hold her phone with both hands while the car continued moving, prompting concerns over the safety of other motorists and pedestrians.

The incident quickly sparked calls for the LTO to investigate, with netizens questioning why some fans were encouraging others to delete and stop sharing the livestream clips instead of addressing the potential road safety violation.

“Fans immediately telling everyone to delete clips and copy of the live instead of telling her to stop risking lives,” one netizen pointed out.

Others called on the LTO to hold the singer accountable, stressing that celebrity status should not exempt anyone from traffic regulations.

“I-revoke ang lisensya ng mga irresponsible drivers, @/LTOPhilippines! Wala kang karapatang magmaneho if you can’t drive without putting others’ lives at risk,” another wrote.

The backlash also raised concerns about Mikha’s influence as a public figure, particularly among younger fans who may look up to her actions.

“Please be a responsible idol. You have a lot of young fans and malaki ang influence mo sa kanila. Please be a good example to them. Baka akala mo okay lang ’yan, but they may find it really cool kasi ginagawa ng idol nila, which is super wrong,” a netizen said.

Another emphasized that the concern was not rooted in hatred toward the singer, but in the possible consequences of distracted driving.

“No hate kay Mikha, but maraming puwedeng mangyari in seconds lang na hindi ka focused sa pag-drive.”

The discussion also extended to BINI’s public image, with some netizens bringing up the group’s role as tourism ambassadors and questioning whether public figures should be held to the same standards expected of other motorists.

LTO orders preventive suspension

Following the circulation of the footage, the LTO issued a show-cause order against the singer over possible violations of Republic Act No. 10913, or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, as well as other traffic regulations.

The agency placed her driver’s license under a 90-day preventive suspension and directed her to surrender it while the investigation proceeds.

Mikha appeared at the LTO on November 11 and was ordered to submit a sworn explanation and supporting documents. She is also scheduled to appear before the agency’s investigation division on November 20.

Under the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, drivers are prohibited from using mobile devices for activities such as composing or reading messages and browsing the internet while driving, including when temporarily stopped at a traffic light.

The incident has also prompted comparisons with other public figures, with some social media users questioning whether the same standards of road safety are consistently applied to celebrities and ordinary drivers.

While the investigation has yet to reach a final determination, the discussion goes beyond Mikha’s celebrity status. A driver’s momentary distraction can put passengers, pedestrians, and other road users at risk.