Crackdown on ‘Duterte plates’ starts

BING GONZALES/INQUIRER FILE MINDANAO

Malacañang on Sunday warned motorists from attaching “Duterte plates” to their vehicles to flout traffic rules as it called on the public to be vigilant against abusive vehicle owners.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said President Duterte would not tolerate motorists using license plates emblazoned with the President’s name to avoid being flagged down for traffic rules  violation.

“The President has always been for equality, fairness and justice,” Andanar told government-owned dzRB radio.

“If you have reports or personally saw abusive motorists using Duterte plates, you can (contact) the Presidential Communications Office and I will make sure the President finds out,” he said.

After his unconventional, albeit controversial, campaign led to his landslide victory in the May 9 elections, Mr. Duterte instantly became a pop icon of sorts among his ardent supporters.

A number of enterprising traders have been capitalizing on Mr. Duterte’s popularity for their businesses, manufacturing memorabilia from printed T-shirts to mugs to  posters and even baked goodies.

Some unscrupulous people are also selling license plates printed with “DU30” or “Duterte,” claiming the vehicle owners could use it to avoid the number coding policy in the metropolis and protect them from mulcting traffic enforcers.

Despite his rather questionable approach to crushing the  illegal drug trade, Mr. Duterte has been known as a  stickler for traffic rules even when he was mayor of Davao City.

Previous media reports said he was once issued a traffic citation ticket for not wearing a helmet while driving his motorcycle in the city.