By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Land Transportation Office (LTO) Executive Director Atty. Greg Pua clarified that the protocol plate number 7 seen on a white Escalade driving on the EDSA busway is fake, noting that the agency did not issue such a plate for any SUV.
“‘Yung plaka pong nakita po natin doon po sa video, wala po siya nung mga features at design ng protocol plate number 7 na ini-issue po natin,” Pua said in a radio interview on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
“Hindi po ‘yan in-issue ng LTO. Hindi rin po tayo nag-issue ng protocol plate 7 sa isang white Escalade,” he added.
Plate number 7 is designated for senators.
Pua further confirmed that no current senator owns a white Cadillac Escalade.
The LTO is coordinating with other agencies to trace the owner of the SUV, as the driver is not under their custody, Pua said.
Meanwhile, Pua confirmed that only 24 individuals own such an SUV model in the country.
On Monday, Senate President Chiz Escudero stated that the owner of the vehicle will face consequences.
“Hindi dapat magtapos dito ang isyu na ito. Kailangan matukoy ng LTO kung sino ang may-ari ng sasakyan at siguraduhin na mananagot ito sa paglabag ng batas,” Escudero said.
ia/mnm
