The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will implement a 'no release policy' against vehicles impounded due to anti-colorum operations.
The new policy means that LTO will no longer release impounded colorum vehicles even if the registered owner pays the fine.
LTO Chief Asec. Vigor Mendoza II said on Tuesday, June 11, that only a court order would cause the release of impounded colorum vehicles.
"Masyado nang matagal at malalim ang problema sa iligal na operasyon ng colorum vehicles sa ating bansa," Mendoza said in a statement
"Kailangan na nating magpatupad ng mas mabigat na kaparusahan tungkol dito upang maipakita sa mga taong patuloy na nilalabag ang batas na seryoso ang ating pamahalaan upang tapusin ang modus nila," the LTO chief stressed.
LTO mentioned that transport groups complain they lose 30 percent of their daily income due to the operation of colorum vehicles.
The agency added that, while colorum vehicles usually operate in remote areas and in the provinces, reports show that Metro Manila and nearby areas observed an increase in the number of private vehicles that act as PUVs in the past.
"Simple lang po ito: May mga regulasyon patungkol sa operation ng public utility vehicles. Kung hindi po ito sinunod, maliwanag na iligal po ang operasyon nito and this is equivalent to committing a crime. Kaya may karampatang parusa at multa dito," Mendoza said.
"At kasama sa parusa dito ay ang pagpapatupad natin ng no release policy for all vehicles that would be impounded in anti-colorum operations," he said.
Mendoza also issued a memorandum directing all regional directors, district office heads and chiefs of LTO units to immediately criminal cases in every successful anti-colorum operation.
"Failure to do so shall be subject to administrative liability,” warned Mendoza.
