President Marcos has directed agencies to ensure the safety of commuters from abusive public transport drivers.

The directive came after 671 drivers were suspended for testing positive for drugs and 1,165 vehicles failed road worthiness inspection.

"Yes, there is this directive coming from the President that there should be more protection to the commuters, to everyone from abusive drivers," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Thursday, April 24.

"So, ito po ay napakaganda po dahil ipinapakita po natin sa taumbayan na sila ay dapat na safe sa daan at hindi po dapat abusuhin ang anumang ibinigay na pribilehiyo na ikaw ay maging driver sa kalye (So, this is good because we are showing the people that they should be safe in the roads and drivers should not abuse whatever privilege is given to them)," Castro said.

Meanwhile, the Palace expressed support for the proposed Anti-Kamote Bill which seeks to prevent the detention of nonaccountable motorists involved in accidents.

Castro said while they agree that non-accountable motorists should not be detained, they also recognized that due process must be followed.

"Dapat lamang po, kung hindi naman po makikita na may kasalanan. Minsan kapag po nagkaroon ng vehicular accident, makikita naman paminsan-minsan ng mga imbestigador kung sino ba iyong unang nagkamali (It is only right, especially if it’s not immediately clear who is at fault. Sometimes, when a vehicular accident occurs, investigators can sometimes determine who made the first mistake)," Castro said.

"Siguro kapag ang imbestigador po ay nakita na ang isa ay siyang nabiktima o iyong sasakyan ang mismong nadanyusan, hindi po naman dapat na makulong ang mismong nabiktima (If the investigator sees that one party is clearly the victim or that their vehicle was the one damaged, then the victim should not be imprisoned)," she added.

"Pero may mga pagkakataon po na sa pag-iimbestiga, hindi naman agad nakikita kung sino iyong may sala. So, karapatan din po ng mga awtoridad natin na huwag muna palayain, o magkaroon ng agarang imbestigasyon; kasama na rin po ito sa due process (However, there are times when, during the investigation, it’s not immediately apparent who is at fault. So, it is also within the rights of our authorities not to release anyone right away, or to conduct an immediate investigation; this is also part of due process," she further said.

Marcos had earlier called out “kamote” drivers or undisciplined motorists amid cases of road rage and accidents.

Land Transportation Office Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II said the agency is preparing a total of 1,165 show cause orders against motor vehicle owners who failed to properly maintain their vehicles during the random roadworthiness inspections across the country last week.

Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has warned that the government will strictly run after reckless and abusive motorists.