Velasco clarifies no official vehicle plates released yet for House members

The House of Representatives has yet to grant lawmakers under the 19th Congress its protocol license plates with the number 8.

Secretary General Reginald Velasco shed light on Wednesday that the House "has not released, or authorized the use of, official plates for vehicles of House member."

Velasco issued the statement in the wake of reports that a low-numbered car was apprehended on Wednesday morning by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for passing through the exclusive EDSA carousel bus lane.

Velasco said he already asked the Land Transportation Office and the MMDA to apprehend the drivers of vehicles bearing number 8 plates and confiscate the expired or spurious plates.

Low-numbered plates, or protocol plates, are designated only for top officials in the Philippines by virtue of Executive Order 287.

The number 8 is solely intended for congressmen.

License plates with the number 8 have been associated with controversy in recent years as it was being used as a means to breach the law.