SC junks consolidated petitions vs NCAP

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the consolidated petitions challenging the legality of the no-contact apprehension policy in Metro Manila, and lifting the temporary restraining order covering the NCAP in several city governments.

But the SC stressed that the decision does not constitute a ruling that the challenged NCAP issuances are valid.

Aside from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the NCAP is implemented by five local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila.

In a 33-page decision penned by Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda promulgated on June 3 but made public yesterday, the SC ruled that the petitions “were rendered moot and marred by fundamental procedural effects.”

In dismissing the petitions, the high tribunal cited the adoption of a uniform traffic scheme under the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023.

The petitions were filed by the Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon Inc., Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Associations of the Philippines, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization, Philippine National Taxi Operators Association, lawyer Juman Paa, Manuel Cruz and Jacqueline Serrano.

Named respondents were the local governments of Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Parañaque and Muntinlupa as well as the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The petitioners said the NCAP, which uses AI-powered cameras to catch traffic violators, violated the land transportation and traffic code.

Following the lifting of the temporary restraining order against the MMDA’s version of NCAP in May 2025, the high court also lifted the TRO issued against the LGUs and the LTO.

The MMDA has stressed that its NCAP is different from those of the LGUs, which outsourced the traffic monitoring and gave the bulk of the fines to a private company. Motorists complained that the fees were exorbitant and the NCAP was abused.

NCAP now on eGovPH

To allow motorists to check and settle their traffic violations online, the MMDA launched yesterday the NCAP service on the eGovPH Super App.

“There is no need to physically come here when you can settle traffic fines through the internet. You won’t have to travel and waste time,” MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said.

Under eGovPH, motorists can check their traffic violations by searching the NCAP feature in the application.

They must enter the vehicle’s license plate and upload the OR/CR details to verify the offense.

The violation history will be displayed, including the date, time, location and status of the traffic offense.

Artes said the MMDA’s MayHuliKa website logged over 15 million site visits, where different users checked more than 11 million traffic violations.

With the NCAP service now on eGovPH, the MMDA said it is eyeing the expansion of its reach through records verification, monitoring, payment status tracking and other access-related services. – Andrew Ronquillo