Chamber orders recall of all expired ‘8’ plates issued during the last congress

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives has ordered the recall of all expired “8” plates, or protocol plate numbers given to lawmakers who were part of previous congresses.

In a memo dated November 16 but released to reporters on Monday, Chamber Secretary General Reginald Velasco said the plaques can be delivered to his office for proper recognition.

The number eight (8), in the Philippine special license plate design, has been used to designate vehicles used by members of the House.

“This is to respectfully request the immediate withdrawal of all expired Protocol #8 plates issued during previous congresses, as well as counterfeit Protocol #8 plates that may have come into your possession,” Velasco said in the memo.

“Please hand over these license plates to the Office of the Secretary-General for due recognition. Thank you,” he added.

Later this November 15, Velasco said in a statement that it will seek help from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in the seizure of vehicles with unauthorized No. 8 license plates.

There have been reports that some individuals have used old No. 8 plates or illegal replicas, or cited the name of a member of the Chamber to avoid apprehension for traffic violations.

READ: House wants MMDA and LTO to help chase cars with illegal #8 plates

Also last November 15, while the MMDA was at the height of signaling private and unauthorized vehicles passing through the bus-only lane on Avenida Epifanio de los Santos (Edsa), there were reports that the vehicle of Senator Ramon “Bong ” Revilla was among those stopped.

MMDA Task Force Special Operations Unit chief Bong Nebrija reported this, but ended up apologizing to Revilla after the senator insisted he was not in the vehicle.