MORE than 21,000 drivers, the majority from Metro Manila, have been accosted and fined by authorities for violating the government's "no plate, no travel" policy since May 19, Philippine National Police Traffic Management Group director Chief Supt. Ricardo C. Quinto announced yesterday.

"The number is still growing as we continue our drive rain or shine on orders of Interior and Local Government Secretary (Angelo) Reyes," said Quinto.

The TMG also has stepped-up its crackdown on unauthorized use of sirens and blinkers amid mounting complaints from the public.

"Secretary Reyes's order is strict. Accost all drivers using sirens and blinkers just to get away from the traffic," Quinto said. Under the law, only ambulances, police and military mobile cars, fire trucks, emergency vehicles and marked vehicles of the Presidential Security Group are authorized to use sirens and blinkers.

More than 3,000 of the violators were intercepted by the National Capital Region Traffic Management Office headed by Supt. Lorenzo J. Holanday Jr., He warned that violators will be dealt with accordingly should they ignore orders for them to stop for investigation and try to elude TMG operatives.

Last July 20, SPO3 Rodolfo R. Duanan, a TMG agent was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a passenger jeep as he was trying to catch a van without plate numbers on Marcos Highway in Pasig City.

PNP chief Director General Arturo C. Lomibao ordered the posthumous promotion of Duanan who died in the line of duty. Lomibao also said the PNP will shoulder the college education of Duanan's two children.

So far, Quinto said 3,010 of the violators were apprehended in Metro Manila followed by 2,255 in Western Mindanao; 1,845 in Central Luzon; 1,898 in Central Visayas; 1,472 in CALABARZON; and 1,440 in Southern Mindanao.

The drivers were accosted for having no Land Transportation Office plates, for sporting unauthorized or expired commemorative plates unauthorized or fake LTO plates, for having expired conduction stickers, for driving without LTO validating stickers and for using sirens and blinkers.






hindi pa kasama diyan ang mga nag LAGAY na driver...hehehe