MANILA — The Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) on Monday apprehended 97 public utility vehicles (PUVs) due to various violations such as colorum, out-of-line and election-related offenses during its operations conducted during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Five public utility jeepneys (PUJs) were apprehended and impounded on the spot after they were found transporting ‘flying’ voters. Two of those jeepneys have “Comelec service” signages which is not authorized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
A UV Express van with Cubao-Buendia franchise was also flagged down as it carried passengers from Dau to Pasay that were charged for PHP500 each.
“Drivers and operators of these vehicles will be strictly penalized in accordance with the law,” Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Road Transport and I-ACT chief Tim Orbos said in a statement.
The Comelec has not authorized any PUVs to transport voters to polling precincts.
“We have verified with Comelec and they told us that they do not hire PUVs to transport voters to polling precincts,” LTFRB Board Member and I-ACT spokesperson Aileen Lizada said in a text message to reporters.
The I-ACT will be coordinating with the Comelec for possible legal actions against drivers and operators of the PUVs that were apprehended during the said operations.
A total of 19 temporary operators’ permits and 49 ordinance violation receipts were issued during the I-ACT’s operations that were conducted in Quezon City, Caloocan and Parañaque.
The traffic council has also nabbed 23 motorcycles for various violations, such as riders driving without helmet, among others.
The operations known as Oplan Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections (HOPE) were conducted in compliance with the directive of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade for all the sectoral offices and attached agencies of the department to ensure peaceful and orderly elections.
It was aimed at flagging down operators and drivers who are using their PUVs to ferry voters who are outside of the line of their franchises particularly if they carry ‘flying’ voters.
The penalty for colorum violation is up to PHP1 million depending on the vehicle and possible revocation of Certificate of Public Convenience as per the DOTr Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01. (PNA)
