Actress breaches Asean lane

LTO mulls cancelation of driver’s license

Actress and former beauty queen Maria Isabel Lopez may lose her driver’s license after she removed barriers along EDSA and drove along the lane designated for delegates of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

In a Facebook page on Saturday, Lopez said she removed the divider cones separating the ASEAN lane from the lanes open to the public.

Lopez, Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1982, said the motorists behind her followed suit as she sped along the ASEAN lane.

“It’s a serious breach of security,” Celine Pialago, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said.

The MMDA and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) asked the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to suspend or cancel the driver’s license of Lopez for security breach and violation of traffic rules.

Lopez posted on social media how she removed the barriers, entered the ASEAN lane and pretended to be a delegate while EDSA was at a standstill on Saturday.

“Driving with hazards on at the #aseanlane. I removed the divider cones! Other motorists behind me followed. MMDA thinks I’m an official ASEAN delegate. If you can’t beat ‘em, join them! #nosticker #leadership #belikemaria #pasaway,” read Lopez’s post.

She also posted a video saying, “woohhh. I did it. Be like Maria.”

Pialago said Lopez’s behavior should not be emulated.

LTFRB board member and spokesperson Aileen Lizada said the motorists who followed Lopez would be sanctioned for violating traffic rules.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa will look into Lopez’s action, Lizada said.

Lizada slammed Lopez, saying she should be a role model being a former beauty queen.

Catalino Cuy, officer-in- charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said the behavior shown by Lopez should not be tolerated.

Cuy said the actress undermined the traffic management plan laid out by the authorities for the ASEAN summit.

“As a public figure, she must be mindful of the consequence of her actions. We want to remind the people that traffic rules are meant to save lives and put order in the management of traffic flow, especially now that we are hosting the ASEAN summit. We will not allow someone like her to put our security plan to naught,” he said.

Cuy chairs the ASEAN Committee on Security, Peace and Order and Emergency Preparedness and Response (CSPOEPR).

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is backing the recommendation of the Lopez LTFRB and MMDA to cancel the driver’s license of Lopez.

The DOTr under Secretary Arthur Tugade said the actress’ actions show disregard for traffic regulations.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde supports recommendation to revoke the driver’s license of Lopez.

“A person of her stature should be an example to others,” Albayalde, head of the ASEAN route security, said.

Traffic violations

The LTO said it would study the recommendation of various agencies to revoke the driver’s license of Lopez for violating traffic rules.

“There is a consensus among the agencies involved in the ASEAN security to recommend the revocation of her driver’s license,” LTO law enforcement service director Francis Almora said.

Emmanuel Miro, head of the ASEAN Technical Working Group on Traffic Management, said Lopez’s misbehavior would be dealt with accordingly.

Miro said they would conduct a probe into the incident .

“The law must be applied to everyone, whether you are an ordinary Filipino or a public figure,” he said.

Lopez draws flak

Lopez drew flak from netizens for being a bad example considering she is an actress and a former beauty queen.

“Proud ka pa talaga teh? Be like Maria? Ganun ka kabobo para ipagmalaki mo na traffic violator ka?” said Instagram user imyourasianhottie.

“A not so beauty queen behavior. Should’ve served as a role model,” Instagram user chechepids said.

Anne Boncay said Lopez needs counseling.

“This woman needs a psychiatrist. Please get out of the country, you bitch!” Boncay said.

The actress apologized to the public for her action.

“Sorry to those who were affected,” she posted on Facebook.

The MMDA renewed its call for motorists to avoid EDSA during the ASEAN summit starting today until Wednesday.

The MMDA said heavy volume of vehicles and undisciplined motorists triggered the monstrous traffic gridlock along EDSA all the way to the North Luzon Expressway on Saturday.

Bong Nebrija, MMDA supervising officer for operations, said the motorists ignored advisories to avoid EDSA during the arrival of the ASEAN leaders.

Only emergency vehicles and responders can use the ASEAN lane, according to the CSPOEPR.

“Emergency vehicles are allowed to use the ASEAN lane if there are no delegates’ convoys,” the CSPOEPR said in its traffic advisory. –