Metro Manila — The joint anti-colorum and traffic violation operations by the Department of Transportation-Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (DOTr-LTFRB) and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) at the NAIA terminals yielded a total of 450 erring motorists.
During a media conference at the MIAA office in Pasay City this morning, LTFRB and MIAA officials bared that from August 9, 2017 up to September 5, 2017, a total of 30 motorists were cited and apprehended for colorum operation.
Aside from those apprehended operating colorum vehicles, LTFRB and MIAA enforcers also cited a total of 420 motorists for various traffic violations, ranging from disregarding traffic signs, contracting fare, illegal parking, to overcharging of fare and refusal to convey passengers.
The LTFRB recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the MIAA to intensify its anti-colorum operations at the NAIA terminals in an effort to ease traffic in the area.
Among those cited for colorum operation was reportedly a police officer, whose driver was apprehended last September 3, 2017 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Upon verifying that the vehicle does not have a valid franchise, operatives brought the unit to the impounding area at Nayong Pilipino until the operator, who introduced himself as Major Mel Arcita, arrived.
Arcita reportedly tried to convince the authorities not to impound his vehicle, and threatened the LTFRB inspector.
“Huwag mo nang i-impound ang sasakyan ko. Tandaan mo, hindi lang ngayon tayo magkikita. Magkikita at magkikita pa rin tayo,” the operative quoted Arcita as saying.
Philippine National Police- Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) Chief Superintendent Arnel Escobal said he has already summoned Arcita to appear for questioning regarding the incident.
Escobal said Arcita could face dismissal or administrative sanctions depending on the findings of the police investigators.
For his part, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III said the collaboration and cooperation between agencies and other government entities under the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic Management have been “very effective.”
“In so far as the leadership of the HPG , LTFRB, the LTO (Land Transportation Office), including our partners in MIAA, we can assure the public that we are very serious, we are very firm in addressing these incidents, not just in anti-colorum, but also on all other aspect involving public transport,” Delgra said. #30 | dotr-pr
