Actress’ license revoked for Asean lane breach

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has revoked the driver’s license of actress Maria Isabel Lopez and fined her P8,000 for breaching a lane on EDSA meant for the exclusive use of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit delegates earlier this month.

In a resolution issued Nov. 23, the LTO described Lopez as an “improper person” to operate a motor vehicle after she breached the ASEAN lane and posted a video of the incident on her Facebook account on Nov. 11, citing Section 27 of the RA 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.

Lopez was found guilty of disregarding traffic signs, reckless driving and violating the AntiDistracted Driving Act.

The actress was also disqualified to apply for a new license for two years from the date of revocation.

Various agencies – including the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority; the ASEAN Committee on Security, Peace and Order and the Department of the Interior and Local Government – supported the move to revoke Lopez’s license.

Lopez was subpoenaed by the LTO to explain her side a few days after the incident, wherein she said she had asked an MMDA traffic enforcer if she could pass through the ASEAN lane and was denied but he left her during their conversation.

This supposedly prompted her to take out the traffic cones.

Her explanation was set aside by the LTO which ruled that her defense were “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 lack of utter sense of responsibility as a licensed driver, thus, making her an improper person to operate a motor vehicle,” the resolution read.

The LTO’s Law Enforcement Service Division said Lopez has yet to surrender her driver’s license as of yesterday.

The resolution stated the actress has to personally surrender her license card within 24 hours upon receipt.

Meanwhile, Jojo Garcia, MMDA assistant general for planning, said they are satisfied by the LTO’s decision “because she was punished.”

Asked about stories that made the rounds online that Lopez will be ordered to do community service, Garcia said they are fake news and did not come from the MMDA.

MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago warned motorists not to follow Lopez’s example saying they are now strict in enforcing traffic laws and violators will not be given VIP treatment.