Land Transportation Chief (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao assured that he will be fair in dealing with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicolas Torre III’s case, after the official’s vehicle was caught on camera passing through the EDSA Busway in an SUV covered in agency decals and a transferred plate.

“Fair po ako, kahit po opisyal ng gobyerno, hinuhuli po talaga namin. May nahuli na po kami, natanggalan na ako na lisensya na governor, na congressman, nahulihan ko ng wang-wang. Fair lang po, trabaho lang,” Lacanilao said during an exclusive interview on Balansyado, adding that the issue with the tampering of the vehicle’s plate is a serious one.

The LTO chief added that if the agency had deemed it fit to impound actor Derek Ramsay’s misdeclared Porsche 918 Spyder sportscar, it would be inappropriate to deal fairly in public official Torre’s case.

He said that use of the EDSA Bus Carousel as a private vehicle was a violation that warrants a fine of ₱5,000, and increases with every repeat offense.

The issue regarding the apparent tampering of plates is the weightier issue, however, Lacanilao said.

“Ang mabigat po ‘yung tampering of plates. Ang tampering of plates kasi, ‘yung original na plaka, tinatanggal po ninyo. Pinapalitan niyo ng identity ‘yung sasakyan, although sa amin, pag administrative, ₱5,000 lang din ang multa,” he said.

Additionally, Lacanilao pointed out that Torre’s SUV was fitted with flashing blinkers, which is illegal. The private vehicle also bore unofficial government markings.

“Pero mayro’n pa po isa, ‘yung blinker. Hindi po siya pag-aari ng gobyerno at hindi po siya nasa enforcement na sasakyan, so bawal po ‘yung blinker na nandodoon sa taas,” he said.

Lacanilao said he is currently speaking with the LTO legal team regarding the unauthorized use of government decals on the car, as this is his first time encountering such a case.

GM Torre, he said, was compliant with the show cause order (SCO) issued against him and has voluntarily surrendered the vehicle in question.

“Ang nabanggit po niya, dahil nga may emergency, parang may nirerespondehan sila, pero verbal lang po iyon, wala pa pong official na sagot, kasi kailangan po namin ng official na sagot nila, or written na sagot nila, doon po sa mga pangyayari po na iyan. Unang-una, ‘yung bus lane at tsaka po doon sa tampering of plate,” he said.