Despite of using the number 8 plate, officials of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) didn’t hesitate to tow the vehicle that illegally parked around a condominium unit in Quezon City on Monday.
When the driver of the vehicle appeared, MMDA discovered that the car that they towed was owned by Albay 1st district Representative Edcel Lagman, one of the most popular member of the opposition.
TJ Lagman, the grandson of the lawmaker who used the vehicle, admitted that he made a mistake when he didn’t order his driver to park his grandfather’s car in the right place.
“Wala namang magagawa, kasalanan ko naman,” Lagman said.
Sasakyan ni Rep. Edcel Lagman na nakaparada sa gilid ng isang condo sa Scout Borromeo St., nai-tow ng MMDA. Inisyuhan ng tiket ang apo ni Lagman na si TJ na gumamit ng sasakyan. Aminado siyang hindi niya ito naipagarahe sa driver. pic.twitter.com/godeWw0Ygi
— Anjo Bagaoisan (ᜀᜈ᜔ᜇᜒᜌᜓ ᜊᜄᜏᜒᜐᜈ᜔) (@anjo_bagaoisan) May 7, 2018
The number 8 plate was designated to the cars being used by the members of house of representatives.
Lagman received a ticket from the MMDA and he need to pay a fine of atleast 2,500 pesos.
The lawmaker is not yet releasing a statement on what happened.
Meanwhile, netizens praised MMDA for not choosing whom to arrest.
In the executive department, President Rodrigo Duterte already ordered the workers of the government to avoid using the special plates because he believe that they are “just workers” and there’s nothing special about them.
“For example, I told my Cabinet that they should not use special plates [for their vehicles]. No number 1, no number 6,” he said.
In 2010, former Senator Manny Villar filed Senate Bill 2590 calling for a ban on the use of protocol license plates by all government officials except the President.
He believe that people who are using protocol plates were being brave to disregard traffic laws.
