Maria Isabel Lopez appeals to LTO: ‘Sana bigyan ako ng konting senior citizens discount’

Actress and former beauty queen Maria Isabel Lopez on Thursday appealed to the Land Transportation Office that she should be meted with a penalty commensurate to her actions.

The former beauty queen was summoned by the agency to explain why her driver’s license should not be suspended or revoked.

She arrived at the Law Enforcement Service office of Director Francis Ray Almora along with lawyers Katherine Panguban and Maria Sol Taule before 10 a.m.

In an interview with reporters, Lopez said she is hoping that the LTO would also consider that she never had violated any traffic rules and regulations before.

"Yung pag-post ko naman sa social media, it's just like the child in me. Maganda naman na meron tayong due process, but I did those actions and I’m willing to take the consequence of my action kung may penalty," Lopez said.

"Sana lang matimbang nila nang maigi yung buong pangyayari tsaka sabi ko na lang kay Director Almora, wala pa naman akong driving violation o traffic violation, sana kung ano man yung penalty na ipapataw sakin sana bigyan ako ng konting senior citizens discount, 20 percent," she added.

Actress & former beauty queen Maria Isabel Lopez says it was not her intention to breach security when she drove in a lane on EDSA reserved for ASEAN Summit delegates. pic.twitter.com/tI8LKUqjwL

— Marlly Rome (@marllybondoc) November 16, 2017

Lopez was ordered to submit to a petition paper within the day. The decision on what penalties should be served will be released within five days after the LTO has received Lopez's position paper.

LTO had said that Lopez disregarded traffic sign, breached security protocol for the 31st ASEAN Summit and also violated the Anti-Distracted Driving Act.

The agency added that Lopez was an "improper person to operate a motor vehicle" since she had endangered the safety of the public and government property.

Meanwhile, Almora said they are still reviewing CCTV footage with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to validate Lopez's claims that she other motorists also drove along the ASEAN lanes.

"Tinitingan natin yung ibang footage kasama po natin ang MMDA para [sa] sinasabi niyang iba pang nag-violate but sa ngayon po, siya po yung focus natin kasi siya yung na-complaint," Almora said.

"Wala pa namang complaints sa iba. 'Pag may ibang complaint then, doon po kami magfo-focus," he added.

Lopez, for her part, said the CCTV footage will show that she indeed talked to an MMDA enforcer.

"Nandun naman yung footage from MMDA which is actually a relief for my part. 'Wag lang na-doctor 'yon. Yung CCTV footage nandun naman nakalagay na yung actual scenarios na may nakausap ako[ng] officer so dadaan naman ako sa usual process hindi naman dahil sa artista ako or anything pero just like any motorist, sabi nga nila no one is above the law," she said.

Lopez said that she had only "assumed" that the traffic enforcer allowed her to pass through the ASEAN lane.

"Hindi ako pinayagan ng MMDA...aminado ako I made a mistake na kasi he left me and I wasn't directed properly and I saw all the incoming vehicles public transportation using the ASEAN lane," Lopez said.

"I assumed na it was already okay, he himself was confused tapos nagkakamot ng ulo. Tapos in the middle of our conversation iniwan ako so 'yun nga lang aminado ako of my mistake sabi ko, 'ay sir okay na padaanin mo na ko sir.'  So inurong ko na yung cone tapos pumasok ako," she added.

Meanwhile, Lopez will be treated just like any other traffic violators according to Almora.

"Sa part po ng LTO, ang instruction po sa ‘kin dito, trabaho lang po. Isa lang po siyang violator, isa lang po siyang gumawa ng kasalanan so based lang doon," Almora said.

"We don't know kung sino yung sinasabi kung meron pa bang iba we don't know po. So kung meron pa we do the same procedure," he added.

Lopez, the Binibining Pilipinas Universe titleholder in 1982, earlier drew flak after she shared on her Facebook and Instagram accounts that she removed divider cones on EDSA so she could use the ASEAN Lanes and avoid heavy traffic on Saturday, November 11.

The designated lanes were blamed for the monster traffic jam on EDSA last week as they reduced the number of lanes the general public could use. — RSJ, GMA News