Isko warns ‘tolongges’ drivers

The mayor is offering amnesty to thousands of drivers who have not redeemed their license from cityhall.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has warned motorists who obtain and use multiple driver’s license in place of their confiscated ones to avoid paying traffic violation fine.

Moreno issued the warning after discovering that 12 unredeemed driver’s licenses at Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) belong to a single traffic violator.

The mayor also learned other traffic violators with five to six driver’s license that were confiscated and remain unclaimed.

“Gusto mong sumikat ha, mga kababayan, eto po si Joey Lasco Batilan, tino-tolongges (cheat) po nito ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Maynila,” Moreno said in a video posted on his social media page on 18 September.

“Paano nangyari na may lisensiya si Batilan na nahuli noong 2013, pagkatapos umano ay may lisensiya siya ulit ng dalawa noong 2014? Hindi ninyo na kami matotolonges ngayon sa Maynila,” Moreno stressed.

Moreno quoted MTPB chief Denis Viaje as telling him that Batilan was apprehended for various traffic violations covering the period of from 2013 to 2016 and the dozen licenses under his name were among the 50,000 unclaimed licenses that have been with the MTPB since 2003.

Citing Viaje’s report, Moreno said Batilan’s case was not unique since several others were found with five to six confiscated licenses but did not claim it at City Hall.

Moreno said he had entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) where the office of Viaje is being given access to the LTO’s system so that traffic enforcers can easily verify the status of licenses of drivers who have been apprehended for various traffic violations.

Meantime, Viaje said an amnesty had been given by the mayor for the drivers’ who have not claimed their license and paid fine.

Moreno, in another video, announced that he was waiving the accumulated interests and surcharges on traffic violation fines and ticketed drivers need only pay the principal amount of the penalty to reclaim their confiscated driver’s license.