Speaker recalls ‘8’ car plates

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has ordered the recall of all vehicle license plates with the number “8” in the wake of reports of abuse by their users.

The order is contained in a memorandum issued to members of the chamber by Cesar Pareja, who is secretary general of the House of Representatives.

“We have received reports that certain vehicles with Protocol Plate No. 8 have been spotted in indecent places or figured in crime-related activities. In view of this development, the Speaker has given instructions for the immediate recall of protocol plates issued during the 16th Congress and earlier,” Pareja said in his memorandum.

“Kindly turn in these car plates to the office of the secretary general for proper acknowledgment,” he said.

Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco questioned the coverage of the recall order.

Tiangco said it should cover not only members of previous Congresses but those of the current Congress as well.

“We don’t need those protocol plates in doing our job as lawmakers and in serving our constituents. They serve only as symbols of perks and privilege,” he said.

Tiangco has filed Bill 413, which seeks to ban the Land Transportation Office (LTO) from issuing low-numbered vehicle plates.

He invoked the Constitution, which provides: “Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”

Tiangco said the use of protocol plates has always been associated with privilege and abusive behavior “exhibited by individuals driving or using these vehicles, whether government officials or persons posing as such.”

“Moreover, it has become difficult for motorists and the public to identify the individuals concerned as thousands of protocol plates are issued to various government officials,” he said.

He said as lawmakers, members of Congress should set a good example by approving a measure that would apply to them.

He suggested that only the President and Vice President should be allowed to use protocol plates.

But with their simple lifestyle, Tiangco said he doubted if President Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo would want the plates showing the numbers 1 and 2 attached to their official or personal vehicles.

At present, various officials, including justices, constitutional commission members and even assistant secretaries, are issued low-numbered plates.

Tiangco said these public officers, their drivers, bodyguards, or persons using their vehicles often use their plates to get away with traffic infractions.

Under the proposed measure, any person who uses a protocol plate faces P25,000 fine or imprisonment of one month to six months.

The same penalty would be imposed on any LTO official or employee who manufactures or issues a low-numbered plate.

There are also proposals to ban the use of diplomatic plates issued by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) outside the free port.

Many luxury vehicles with SBMA-issued plates are being used in Metro Manila.