MOTORISTS using vehicles with special and commemorative license plates will be apprehended by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Highway Patrol Group (HPG), a police official said on Thursday, November 15.

“Nag-issue na ako sa lahat ng ating chiefs nationwide na mag-conduct ng crackdown sa plaka na 8 at mabuti nga naman na ang ating Congress nag-issue na rin na i-surrender na ang ganitong plaka. Tutulungan naming ang Congress na hanapin ‘yung mga plaka and we will crack down on plate number 8,” Chief Superintendent Roberto Fajardo, HPG director, said.

“I-check na rin natin basta hindi original na plaka na issued ng LTO (Land Transportation Office) like ‘yung mga commemorative plates baka kasi hindi na valid mga ‘yun,” he added.

Fajardo’s order came after a motorist identified as Jojo Valerio who was driving a sports utility vehicle with plate number “8” was involved in a road rage incident in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Valerio was arrested on Wednesday, November 14, in Tarlac. He was charged with grave threat, serious physical injury, abuse and usurpation of authority and violation of traffic rules.

Fajardo said they have already located the vehicle but it already has a different color.

He said they are working to gather the documents needed to impound Valerio’s vehicle.

The Department of Transportation and Communications assigns protocol plates to politicians: “1” for the President; “2” for the Vice President; “3” for the Senate President; “4” for the Speaker of the House of Representatives; “5” for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; “6” for Cabinet Secretaries; “7” for senators; “8” for congressmen; “9” for the associate justices of the high court; and “10” for the presiding justice, other justices of the Court of Appeals and the Solicitor General.

The House of Representatives has urged members to surrender their special plates bearing “8” which was issued during the 16th Congress.

Fajardo said such plate is no longer valid as it only has one-year validity.

In a video that went viral, Valerio was seen punching another motorist inside his vehicle.

The victim said Valerio bragged about being related to a congressman. (SunStar Philippines)