Drivers with ‘8’ plate number to be apprehended, MMDA says

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday said it will begin apprehending drivers of vehicles with the plate number "8" after the House secretary general said such "special plates" for lawmakers have yet to be released.

This comes after MMDA chairperson Romando Artes met with House Secretary General Reginald Velasco on Tuesday evening. 

"We discussed that using unauthorized and illegal special plates should not be tolerated as it threatens public safety and undermines the integrity of the vehicle registration system,” said Velasco in a statement.

Velasco added that he has also issued an instruction prohibiting House members from using the protocol plate.

“The House leadership is committed to upholding the law and ensuring vehicle identification plates' proper and lawful use,” he added.

Velasce also said he will be seeking representation with the Land Transportation Office and the MMDA for the apprehension of the drivers of vehicles bearing the 8 plates and confiscation of the expired or spurious plates.

"The House of Representatives has not released, or authorized the use of official plates for vehicles of House members," emphasized Velasco, 

Earlier, the MMDA said that a member of the House of Representatives was among those apprehended by the MMDA over the unlawful use of the EDSA Bus Lane.

According to the MMDA, one of the vehicles caught using EDSA Busway Lane was a vehicle that carried protocol plate 8. It was initially said to be owned by Ako-Bicol party-list Christopher Co.

Co, however, denied this and said that he did not own the vehicle. 

Velasco, meanwhile, said there are protocol plates issued by the Commission on Appointments secretariat carrying number 8 for a House member and number 7 for a senator. 

Some also are reportedly able to obtain made-to-order plates, he added. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News