Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco is once again seeking to ban through legislation the issuance and use of number 8 protocol or courtesy license plates on the vehicles of House of Representatives members.

Tiangco filed for this purpsoe House Bill (HB) No. 7599, a measure he pursued back in the 17th Congress but was not acted upon at the committee level.

He decided to refile the measure in the current 20th Congress with the hope that it will be passed this time amid the reforms being implemented in the House.

"Several times in the past, the proliferation of vehicles with protocol plates has been identified with abusive behavior exhibited by individuals driving or using these vehicles, whether high ranking government officials or persons posing as such," Tiangco said in justifying his measure.

"As lawmakers, members of the House of Representatives should set a good example by passing a law that will curtail a privilege presently granted to them and that would put them on equal status with other vehicles on the road," he noted.

According to him, the proposed law is anchored on the constitutional principle that public office is a public trust and that public officials should not enjoy special privileges that place them above the law.

Noting that there are close to 300 members of the House of Representatives, Tiangco says it is impossible for traffic enforcement agencies nationwide to ascertain the true identity of those using the protocol plates.

"It has become more and more difficult for motorists and the public to identify the individuals concerned, as thousands of protocol plates are issued to various government officials," he stressed.

Under Tiangco's bill, the issuance and use of number 8 protocol license plates for House members are prohibited, and all previously issued plates bearing the said number are to be cancelled, revoked, and deemed withdrawn.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will also be mandated to immediately desist from issuing such plates upon the law’s effectivity.

HB No. 7599 likewise provides penalties for violations, including fines of up to P25,000 or imprisonment of up to six months for individuals who drive or use vehicles bearing prohibited protocol plates.

Officials or employees of the LTO or any person who issues or causes the issuance of such plates shall be subject to the same penalties.

Sanctions imposed on House members are without prejudice to the chamber’s authority to discipline its members under its own rules, the bill says.