Criminal and administrative charges have been filed against Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and her predecessor Francisco 'Isko' Domagoso before the Office of the Ombusdman over the implementation of the no contact apprehension policy (NCAP).
Lacuna and Domagoso are also facing plunder and graft and corruption charges as well as violation of data privacy act, code of ethical conduct for public officials, oppression and abuse of authority, violation of due process and excessive penalties clause, and violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act.
The charges were filed before the Ombudsman by lawyer Alex Lopez on Thursday.
In 2020, then-Manila mayor Domagoso and his then-vice mayor Lacuna implemented NCAP through the City Ordinance 8676.
"It is worth reiterating that the NCAP was carried out or implemented by the private sector through the private-public partnership in this case Mayor Lacuna and QPAX Traffic Systems Inc.," Lopez said.
"Further, there is also no mention as to a special fund to put the collected penalties paid from alleged traffic violations," he said.
He said the purpose of the the technology-based NCAP is to avoid "robbery-extortion perpetrated by law enforcers against traffic violators, to ease the traffic in Manila, and to unburden the local government of past methods in implementing traffic rules and regulations."
He also argued that the "use of legal force" can be done only by the State and that a private entity, in this case QPAX Traffic Systems Inc., cannot exercise police power or law enforcement.
The camp of both Lacuna and Domagoso have yet to comment on the charges.
