House: Arrest drivers of ‘8’ plate vehicles

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives yesterday asked the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to apprehend the drivers of vehicles bearing “8” license plates.

The number “8”is commonly used as a protocol plate for House members, with the President as “1,” the Vice president as “2,” Senate president as “3,” House speaker as “4,” chief justice as “5,” Cabinet secretaries as “6” and senators as “7.”

House Secretary Reginald Velasco is seeking representation with the LTO and MMDA to also confiscate “the expired and spurious plates.”

“The House of Representatives has not released or authorized the use of official plates for vehicles of House members,” he said in a statement.

Velasco added this makes all “8” plates “illegal and unauthorized.”

During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum yesterday morning, the MMDA said 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 yesterday morning

But in a statement, Co denied owning the vehicle and insisted that he never used the “8” protocol plate.

Co has asked the MMDA to investigate the incident thoroughly and to file appropriate charges against the violator.