House leader warns vs illegal use of special ‘8’ plates

House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. on Friday warned against unauthorized use of low-numbered or protocol license plates specially issued to high-ranking government officials.

“Unauthorized use will result (in) revocation of (the) privilege, confiscation of protocol plates, and (the) imposition of penalty under existing laws,” Andaya said in a statement.

The Camarines Sur 1st District congressman cited Department of Transportation Order No. 2015- 013, as well as Executive Order No. (EO) 400 and 400-A.

Section 4 of EO 400 states that the “assignment or transfer” of the special plates low to unauthorized person/s or motor vehicles by government officials entitled thereto is “strictly prohibited.”

“Violation of this prohibition shall be sufficient cause for the revocation of the herein granted privilege and for the confiscation of the issued protocol plates, and imposition of the corresponding penalty for the violation/s committed as provided by existing laws,” it added.

Andaya earlier said House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the recall of all protocol plates issued during the 16th Congress and earlier.

READ: Andaya asks lawmakers from 16th Congress to return special license plates

This came after road rage victim Jesusito Palma said suspect Jojo Serafico Valerio claimed he was related to a congressman when the latter punched him. Valerio admitted punching Palma, but he claimed Palma “nearly hit” his sports utility vehicle (SUV) and that he was “spat at.”

READ: ‘I was spat at… so I punched him,’ says road rage suspect Valerio | Road rage suspect in viral video collared in Tarlac City

Valerio was driving the SUV bearing the No. 8 license plate reserved for lawmakers when the incident happened in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City in Pampanga on November 11.

READ: Police recover vehicle used in viral road rage video

Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II was dragged into the issue as some reports named him, and because the viral road altercation happened in his district. He dismissed the accusations.

READ: Lawmaker denies owning car involved in Pampanga road rage

Lazatin said the release of protocol license plates to 17th Congress lawmakers had been suspended. /kga