Malacañang on Sunday warned abusive drivers who are still using “Duterte vanity plates” that these will not absolve them from charges if they violate traffic rules.
“The President has always been for equality, fairness and justice,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.
“Now if there are reports or the public sees vehicles with Duterte plates and with abusive drivers, just send videos to us and we will make sure that the President will find out about these,” he added.
At the House of Representatives, Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco has filed a bill seeking the elimination of the vanity plate “8” which has been reserved for congressmen, saying it was an insult to the public given the delays in the release of car plates of ordinary citizens.
Tiangco said it was unfair that each congressman was given two No. 8 car plates and these were released before the President delivers his State of the Nation Address on July 25.
“How come congressmen are issued car plates ahead of the rest of the Filipino citizens? And since each is given two car plates, that means more than 500 car plates are being made even before Congress opens its session,” Tiangco said.
“A citizen who acquires a new car takes four to five months to be issued a car plate. In the case of the congressman, the lawmakers are being told by the office of the House Secretary General to submit the car registration in exchange for the plate,” he added.
In House Bill 413, which Tiangco principally authored, the lawmaker said it is time to stop the issuance of protocol or low-numbered car plates.
“It has become difficult for motorists and the public to identify the individuals concerned, as thousands of protocol plates are issued to various government officials,” he said.
Members of Congress, Tiangco said, should set a good example by approving the measure, which will allow only the President and Vice President to use protocol plates.
He said the use of low-numbered plates has always been associated with privilege and abusive behavior “exhibited by individuals driving or using these vehicles, whether government officials or persons posing as such.”