House, MMDA crack down on vehicles with ‘8’ plates

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have formally agreed to apprehend the drivers of vehicles bearing the protocol plate number “8.”

House secretary general Reginald Velasco said yesterday that he met with acting MMDA Chair Romando Artes on Tuesday night and they agreed that “using unauthorized and illegal special plates should not be tolerated.”

Velasco said they both agreed that this practice “threatens public safety and undermines the integrity of the vehicle registration system.”

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

Velasco earlier clarified that the 19th Congress has not issued protocol plates, making them “illegal and unauthorized.”

Velasco had also issued a memorandum asking all House members to surrender expired and spurious license plates.

The MMDA said on Nov. 15 that its enforcers apprehended a Toyota Land Cruiser supposedly owned by former Ako Bicol party-list representative Christopher Co, who belonged to the 17th Congress, for entering the EDSA Bus Carousel.

Co denied owning the vehicle and insisted that he never used the “8” protocol plate. He asked the MMDA to investigate the incident thoroughly and to file appropriate charges against the violator.