Eye Opener
Controversial government red plate
Asst. Ombudsman for Visayas Virginia Palanca-Santiago flew to Iloilo City last March 13 to meet with high government officials of Region VI to spearhead the O-Plan Red Plate conference held at Emillion Restaurant this city. Regional directors of LTO, COA, CSC and the six Provincial PNP Directors of Western Visayas, PIA, Ombudsman Regional Office VI headed by Vangie Nuñal were present.
How serious is the red plate violation of government offices that all cooperating agencies of the government on the apprehension of vehicles were called to task? As of March 12, 2009, more than 207 red plate government vehicles were apprehended and one upgraded for a criminal charge was filed by Ombudsman Region VI on a government official whose vehicle was found at SM City. Dozens of government vehicles with red plates are found in beaches, hotels, motels, night clubs, schools, churches and other entertainment centers with official and non-official trip tickets according to reports. The modus operandi of some clever regional officials to avoid detection by People's Graftwatch, Corruption Prevention and Junior Graftwatch units and deputized NGOs is to secure green plate which according to them is a security plate to protect government officials from hold-up, ambush, etc. Still there are other government vehicles carrying the name of governor, mayor, councilor, etc. including No. 8. LTO officials averred during the conference that they will appeal to these officials to avoid using these honorary plates.
Why do government officials like to always get the ire of the public? The unstoppable graft and corruption, the percentage anomaly on millions of government contracts, wasteful use of government supplies and materials and now the controversial red plate? Usually when there is a conference of Ombudsman, high government officials promise to high heavens for the apprehension of erring culprits but in real scenario, the pledge may only be a lip service.
COA averred that when a government vehicle is apprehended violating the red plate law and Ombudsman ruled that the use of government vehicle is illegal, COA will disallow allowance for gasoline, etc. According to government auditors' estimate and the Ombudsman, thousands of pesos are lost by the government in form of gasoline, spare parts, etc. in the illegal use of vehicle.
Unless government officials themselves or their drivers use government vehicles without trip tickets in places other than their intended official purpose, Region VI might be tagged as the most notorious region in the abuse of red plate vehicles.