MANILA, Philippines — Walang legal na batayan ang mga local government unit (LGU) upang kumpiskahin ang lisensya ng mga motoristang nahuhuli sa paglabag sa batas-trapiko, ayon sa Land Transportation Office (LTO).
“The LTO wishes to clarify to the public that it is currently implementing Department of Transportation (DOTr) Memorandum Circular No. 001-2026, which sets the policy regarding the non-confiscation of driver’s licenses during apprehension,” pahayag ng ahensya.
“Bilang pagsunod sa kautusan, pansamantalang hindi kinukumpiska ng mga law enforcement officers na may deputasyon mula sa LTO ang driver’s license ng mga motoristang lumalabag sa batas-trapiko,” dagdag nito.
Sinabi ng LTO na walang pangkalahatang kapangyarihan ang mga traffic enforcer na mangumpiska ng lisensya batay sa umiiral na jurisprudence ng Supreme Court.
Naglabas ng paglilinaw ang ahensya matapos igiit ng Bacoor City government na awtorisado ang mga traffic enforcer nito na kumpiskahin ang lisensya ng mga lumalabag sa trapiko sa ilalim ng City Ordinance No. 11-2019, Section 23 ng Revised Traffic Code.
“The City Government of Bacoor reminds the public that, pursuant to City Ordinance No. 11-2019, Section 23 of the Revised Traffic Code, our traffic enforcers are duly authorized to confiscate driver’s licenses of motorists who violate traffic laws within the city,” ayon sa pamahalaang lungsod.
Iginiit din ng Bacoor LGU na “the recent Supreme Court ruling applies only to Metro Manila LGUs under the MMDA. Bacoor, being outside Metro Manila, continues to exercise its authority under the Local Government Code and its duly enacted ordinances.”
Gayunman, sinabi ng LTO na pinapayagan lamang ng mga umiiral na kautusan mula sa transportation at interior departments ang mga LGU traffic enforcer na mag-isyu ng citation ticket, ngunit hindi ang mangumpiska ng lisensya.
“Existing administrative issuances from the (Department of Transportation) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government—including Joint Memorandum Circular No. 01, Series of 2008, issued by the former DOTC and DILG—acknowledge that traffic enforcers from local government units (LGUs) may issue citation tickets but lack the legal basis to confiscate motorists’ driver’s licenses,” pahayag ng LTO.
Hinikayat ng ahensya ang mga LGU, traffic enforcement agency at motorista “to comply with existing laws and regulations to ensure the fair, orderly, and just enforcement of traffic laws nationwide.” Santi Celario
