Court of Appeals junks DOTC petition on higher traffic fines

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has junked the petition of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) seeking to overturn a decision of a Baguio City court declaring as unconstitutional a DOTC order in 2008 increasing traffic violation fines imposed by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

George San Mateo, national president of militant transport group Pagkakaisa ng Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston), said they have received a copy of the ruling of the CA’s Special 12th Division that dismissed the DOTC petition.

The CA ruling was signed by Associate Justices Jane Aurora Lantion, Ramon Garcia and Myra Garcia-Fernandez.

The appellate court upheld the ruling of Baguio Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Estevez declaring as unconstitutional the DOTC order.

San Mateo said a copy of the CA decision was received by their lawyer Edgar Avila.

He called on the DOTC and LTO to respect the CA ruling and suspend the collection of  higher traffic fines.