Ex-lawmaker, Samar vice mayor get traffic tickets

MANILA, Philippines — A former Pampanga congressman and a vice mayor of Samar were cited for traffic violations during road clearing operations conducted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), an official said yesterday.

Former congressman Emigdio Lingad of Pampanga’s second district was fined P300 for violating the number coding scheme, MMDA operations officer Bong Nebrija said.

Nebrija said MMDA enforcers were conducting clearing operations along Commonwealth Avenue near St. Peter’s Church in Quezon City yesterday when they spotted the vehicle driven by Lingad. 

 He said Lingad allegedly tried to ask the enforcers not to issue him a ticket.

“He refused to comply and introduced himself as a congressman but we still issued him a ticket. I told him we cannot give him any favors because we also apprehended many others for traffic violations,” Nebrija said.

He alleged that Lingad presented his expired driver’s license but later surrendered his new license after being told that his vehicle will be impounded because he was driving without a license.

 According to Nebrija, the former lawmaker argued with traffic enforcers and lectured them about his rights as a motorist. He was released after being issued the ticket.

During yesterday’s operations, Nebrija said they also towed two illegally parked vehicles and issued a ticket to another motorist. 

 On Tuesday, the black Toyota sport utility vehicle (conduction number A2H517) of a vice mayor from Samar was towed by the MMDA for being illegally parked near a condominium along Roxas Boulevard’s service road in Pasay.

 Nebrija declined to mention the vice mayor’s name.  The official’s aide was the one who paid her fines: P150 for obstruction, P500 for the towed illegally parked vehicle, and about P5,000 to P6,000 for the towing fee. 

The vice mayor recovered her car and sent it back to Samar. 

“She was asking not to be issued a ticket, but I told her it is our job. She complied and paid the penalties,” Nebrija said.

LTO nabs 191 truck drivers

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) reported yesterday that 191 truck drivers were apprehended for violation of transportation laws in the past three days.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante said the violators were caught in joint operations by the LTO, Department of Public Works and Highways and the Philippine National Police from May 21 to 23 in several areas in Metro Manila.

He said 108 truck drivers were issued tickets for violation of Republic Act 8794 or the Anti-Overloading Law.

Galvante said 20 drivers were apprehended for smoke belching and 63 others for violation of other traffic laws. – With Emmanuel Tupas