Traffic personnel can seize ‘8’ car plates – Speaker

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez yesterday gave the go-signal for traffic authorities to confiscate vehicle license plates with the number “8,” which were issued to former members of the House of Representatives.  

His pronouncement was in line with his recent memorandum directing the “immediate recall of all protocol plates issued during the 16th Congress (from July 2013 to June 2016) and earlier” following persistent reports of abuse by some owners.

In an interview over dzMM, Alvarez stressed that these car plates were expired, and those using it could be held accountable.

He also disclosed that he is personally against the use of special plates, relating that he never did so even when he was a neophyte congressman and secretary of the then Department of Transportation and Communications, though he was entitled to use license plate number “6” for Cabinet members.

The Speaker vowed to co-author a proposed law filed by Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco that will declare as unlawful the issuance and use of protocol plate “8.”

As it is, he said he cannot prevent the issuance of “8” plates because of an existing law.

Under Tiangco’s House Bill 413, a violator will face a fine of P25,000 or minimum imprisonment of one month and one day and maximum imprisonment of six months for using protocol plates.