Actress’ license cancelled over ASEAN lane breach
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) yesterday revoked the driver’s license of actress and 1982 Binibining Pilipinas – Universe Maria Isabel Lopez for blatantly breaching security protocol when she breached the exclsuive Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) lane along EDSA last November 11.
The move was welcomed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which earlier reccomended to the LTO the cancellation of Lopez’s driver’s license.
Lopez drew flak and outrage when she uploaded photos and two videos of her misdeed on Facebook, where she gleefully drove on the lane designated exclusively for ASEAN Summit delegates amid heavy traffic along EDSA.
2-year ban, P8,000 fine Jojo Garcia, MMDA assistant general manager for planning said the LTO barred Lopez from reapplying and reacquiring a driver’s license for the next two years.
Aside from the revocation of her license, Garcia said Lopez was also fined a total of P8,000 for violating three traffic violations: Anti-Distracted Driving Act (ADDA) (P5,000), disregarding traffic sign (P1,500) and reckless driving (P1,500).
‘Lame excuse’ In a resolution dated Nov. 23, Assistant Secretary and LTO chief Edgar Galvante said Lopez “expressly admitted her failure to meet the conditions concomitant with the grant of her license. The defenses she proffered are considered lame and merely self-serving.”
“Worse, she showed no remorse and even publicized with gusto her improper and illegal acts on social media, which betray her utter lack of responsibility as a licensed driver, thus making her an improper person to operate a motor vehicle,” Galvante cited.
The LTO resolution also noted that “a person with a driver’s license is likewise expected to give due consideration to other motorists and pedestrians and avoid committing acts which endanger lives, properties and public safety.
“We are satisfied with the sanctions meted by LTO. At least she was made to suffer the consequences of her actions,” said Garcia.
Lopez is expected to surrender her driver’s license, which will expire on September 2018, within 24-hours upon receipt of the resolution to the office of the LTO Director for Law Enforcement.
MMDA: No VIPs
Meanwhile, MMDA spokersperson Celine Pialago said she hopes that the sanctions imposed on Lopez serve as a lesson to other motorists who habitually disregard traffic laws and regulations on the road.
“Chairman Lim is now setting an example that we are serious in doing our job. We want to show that no VIP (very important person) treatment is accorded to any motorist. We will act according to the law,” said Pialago.