MANILA — Actress and Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1982 Maria Isabel Lopez may lose her driver’s license after evading EDSA traffic on Saturday by using the lane meant exclusively for participants of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde, on Saturday afternoon, expressed support to the recommendation for the suspension or revocation of Lopez’s driver’s license for violation of traffic rules and for breach of security.
In her Facebook account, Lopez bragged that she removed plastic barriers and entered the ASEAN lane on EDSA.
The beauty queen appeared to have been proud of her pretending to be a participant of the ASEAN summit while driving with hazards “on.”
“MMDA thinks I’m an official ASEAN delegate! If [you] can’t beat [them], join them!” Lopez said in her online post.
“A person of her stature should be an example to the Filipino community but she did just the contrary,” Albayalde stressed.
“May this incident serves as a stern warning and reminder to the public that all agencies are communicating and are all working hard to provide security and order for the ASEAN summit,” he added.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Lopez’s action was a “serious breach of security.”
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the MMDA will recommend to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) the suspension of the actress’ driver’s license, said MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago.
In a Twitter post, MMDA clarified that only emergency vehicles can use the ASEAN lane apart from the participants of the summit.
The ASEAN Committee on Security, Peace and Order, and Emergency Preparedness and Response (CSPOEPR) also slammed Lopez for driving in the ASEAN lane.
CSPOEPR chairperson and Department of Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy said Lopez’s action should “neither be condoned nor tolerated.” (PNA)
