Man Nabbed Over Illegal Use of Protocol Plate
By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines

"Police have invited a man for questioning after his car was found bearing a "4" protocol license plate, which is for exclusive use of speakers of the House of Representatives, police said.


Members of the Highway Patrol Group flagged down Luis Lozano, an employee, who was onboard a Mazda 3 (XTN 820) at around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday along the Access Road, in the village of Merville, Sucat, Parañaque, said case investigator Senior Inspector Randy Hibaya.


But Lozano said: "I didn’t know its use is prohibited.”


Initial investigation showed the license plate was authentic and obtained by Lozano from the Land Transportation Office, Hibaya said.


House Speaker Prospero Nograles on February 18 lodged a complaint on the illegal use of the protocol license plate, citing two vehicles—Lozano’s Mazda 3 and a Toyota Vios (ZEK 970).


Lozano, when asked, claimed that he got the license plate from a certain Mr. Garcia, supposedly a friend of Nograles.


Police were validating reports that the Toyota Vios was also owned by the Lozanos, Hibaya said."


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