SC: Oral arguments on NCAP set today

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) will start hearing today the oral arguments on the petitions questioning the legality of the no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP) in some cities in Metro Manila.

Initially slated for next year, the SC, in full session in September, decided to reset the oral arguments to Dec. 6.

The high court had stopped the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and five local governments in Metro Manila from enforcing the NCAP, saying it issued the temporary restraining orders (TROs) without giving due course to the petitions.

Named respondents in one of the petitions are the local governments of Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Quezon City and Valenzuela as well as the LTO.

The other petition named the city council of Manila and Mayor Honey Lacuna as respondents.

In the first TRO, the SC said “any apprehensions through the NCAP and ordinances related thereto should be prohibited until further orders from the court.”

In the second TRO, the high tribunal barred the LTO from sharing motorists’ information with local government units enforcing the NCAP.

The SC also ordered the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to stop implementing its own NCAP.

The NCAP is a road safety and traffic management scheme being implemented by the local governments of Caloocan, Manila, Parañaque, Quezon City, San Juan and Valenzuela as well as along EDSA by the MMDA.

The policy has received flak from public utility vehicle operators and private vehicle owners due to excessive fines for even minor infractions.