Makati cop among 11 caught driving ‘colorum’ vehicles

A MEMBER of the PNP-Highway Patrol Group inspects the papers of a passenger bus on Edsa, Pasay, during Thursday’s joint anticolorum operation with the MMDA, LTFRB and LTO. RAFFY LERMA

A MAKATI policeman was among the 11 violators apprehended by authorities cracking down on “colorum” vehicles in four areas in Metro Manila on Thursday morning.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) identified the policeman as PO3 Divino Darwin whose private van with plate number POP 765 was full of passengers when it was flagged down on Edsa-Balintawak southbound.

The campaign against out-of-line vehicles or those operating without a valid transport franchise was in line with the directive of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to implement Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01 or the fines and penalties for land transport violations.

The MMDA, together with the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group, assisted the lead enforcers—the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)—in conducting the crackdown.

Authorities apprehended a van on Edsa corner Roxas Boulevard northbound, a van and a bus on A. Bonifacio southbound, two vans on Mindanao Avenue southbound and six vans on Balintawak southbound, or a total of 11 for the four-hour operation conducted from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The vehicles were brought to the LTFRB impounding area in Taytay, Rizal, where the units would be held until their owners pay the corresponding penalty: P1 million for buses and P200,000 for vans.