The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has confirmed that the SUV with plate number 7, which attempted to flee after being apprehended at the Guadalupe Busway station, was using a "fake" plate.
In an interview on Dos Por Dos on Tuesday, LTO Executive Director Atty. Greg Pua clarified that the plate number did not originate from their agency and was not issued for a white Cadillac Escalade.
"Hindi ito galing sa LTO. Wala pong inisyu ang LTO na protocol plate number 7 sa isang Cadillac White Escalade, at yung plaka mismo po ay hindi galing sa LTO," he said.
Pua noted that not all signs indicating the plate was fake were visible in the video. He added that the LTO requires an Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration (ORCR) for any vehicle to which a protocol plate is attached.
Meanwhile, Pua mentioned that a protocol plate can be transferred to another vehicle without LTO’s permission.
Upon checking on Monday, Pua found that several senators reportedly do not use their protocol plates. The LTO is also looking into protocol plates from previous Congresses that were not returned.
Pua emphasized that protocol plates should only be used by the senators themselves. "Two pairs lang po ang inilalabas na protocol plate. Ang dapat na gumamit ay ang senador lang," he said.
He added that, despite being exempt from coding, vehicles with protocol plates are still subject to traffic apprehension and are prohibited from using the busway. Only the President, Vice President, Senate President, and Speaker of the House are permitted to access the EDSA busway.
According to Pua, fewer than 30 people own Cadillac Escalade vehicles.
The LTO is currently looking for additional penalties for this violation.
"Sa paggamit ng busway, 'yung driver [ang mananagot], pero 'yung paggamit ng [pekeng] plaka ay [responsibilidad ng] registered owner," Pua stated.
