Politicians top ‘red plate’ violators
Local government officials are the top violators of the “Oplan Red Plate,” according to the Office of the Ombudsman- Visayas.
So far, the Ombudsman has able to intercept 492 vehicles in Western Visayas in the past three years.
Of the number, 284 cases were disposed for lack of probable cause after a thorough assessment and verification.
Currently, there are 208 pending “red plate” violation cases before the Ombudsman.
Deputy Ombudsman-Visayas Pelagio Apostol said most of the violations was for lack of trip ticket that authorizes the travel.
The trip ticket also determines the purpose in using the government vehicle.
Other violations include absence of “Official Use Only” sign or logo of the government agency owning it, and vehicles bearing other plates.
The red plate is issued only to government owned-vehicles.
Apostol said one of the possible reasons of the high “red plate” violation is ignorance of the law.
He said the Ombudsman is planning to conduct public accountability seminars to newly elected government officials and employees of different government agencies and local government units so that they would be guided accordingly.
“Kawawa sila. Sometimes, they think they are doing well but definitely they are wrong,” Apostol said.
The seminar aims for the participants to use their knowledge to make them more effective in carrying out their duties and functions as public servants.
The Oplan Red Plate Task Force is an inter-agency initiative composed of the Commission on Audit, Civil Service Commission, Land Transportation Office, Philippine Information Agency and the Philippine National Police.
The campaign is in line with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Administrative Order No. 239 that prohibits the use of government vehicles for purposes other than official business.*
