Motorist harassed by SUV bearing plate no. 8

A motorist on Saturday was harassed by a driver aboard an SUV with a plate number "8", which is commonly assigned to a member of the House of Representatives.

The said incident was recorded on the dashcam of the motorist who was then traveling on Congressional Avenue in Quezon City, according to a report on GMA News' Unang Balita on Tuesday by Bam Alegre.

In the video, the motorist stopped beside the SUV to fill the road space. When the traffic moved, the SUV cut into the lane of the motorist.

“Angas ah,” the motorist could be heard saying on the video.

The motorist managed to get ahead of the SUV, which prompted the SUV to tail the motorist.

The SUV swerved and overtook vehicles just to keep tailing the motorist, and it almost got caught between two trucks.

When the SUV stopped, its bumper almost hit the rear of the motorist’s vehicle. The SUV then tried to overtake, which prompted the motorist to lower the vehicle window and talk to the SUV driver.

"Problema mo, ha," the motorist could be heard saying on the video.

According to Kim dela Cruz, the uploader of the video, the driver of the SUV was not pleased at what happened.

"Binabaan ko na siya ng window noon. Tapos, tinanong ko po siya kung ano ang problema niya. Eh hindi naman siya nagbaba ng window, tsaka naka-heavy tinted po siya," Dela Cruz said.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita that the use of the plate number 8 is already being prohibited.

“Ang otso na plaka ay pinagbabawal na, lalo kung hindi naman congressman ang nakasakay,” Pialago said on Tuesday.

“Hindi na ho pinapayagan 'yung extended na 8 na ipapagamit mo sa anak, sa asawa, sa girlfriend. Hindi po pwede," she added.

Pialago also said a complaint should be filed first against the SUV driver so they can assist the harassed motorist.

“Wala pang humihingi sa amin ng assistance regarding po sa insidente na ito. Ang mga ganitong klase ng road rage, inaaksyonan naman po natin, basta may complainant, basta may lumapit po sa amin para 'yung investigation natin mag-progress,” she said.

When the complaint is already filed, she said the video can be forwarded to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for review.

“Ito po ay puwede nating ibigay sa Land Transportation Office para makita. Ang LTO ang magpapataw ng disciplinary action sa driver, 'yun 'yung number one doon.” she said.

“Pangalawa, kung magrereklamo sa atin 'yung nasabing nasaktan—hindi kasi tayo puwede mag-issue ng ticket kung hindi naman aktong nakita ng aming traffic enforcer. So ang gagawin po namin dito, at least, 'yung endorsement supporting 'yung mga ilang CCTVs na kayang iabot sa inisdente na 'yan, tutulong po kami sa LTO,” she explained.

Pialago mentioned that according to the records of LTO, there have been several reports of abuse on roads while using the plate number 8. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News