LTO-12: DU30 commemorative plates no longer allowed

KORONADAL CITY -– Officials and personnel of Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Central Mindanao region have started confiscating what it said was unauthorized DU30” commemorative plates.The car plates have proliferated during the campaign period for the recently concluded national and local elections.Manuel Betaizar, LTO-12 assistant regional director, said the election is over and DU30” commemorative plates will no longer be allowed.Betaizar said under the Joint Administrative Order, it is illegal to use commemorative plate without permits and authorization issued by the LTO. A PHP5,000 penalty await violators.At the height of campaign period, supporters of presumptive President Rody Duterte have replaced original license plates with the Duterte commemorative plates. Some car owners have removed the unofficial plates after the election but some are still using it,” Bentaizar said.He did not say how many vehicle owners have been reprimanded or penalized in the SOCCSKSARGEN region.SOCCSKSARGEN is composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, Saranggani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal and Gen. Santos City.Bentaizer has reminded motorists, even motorcycles who displayed DU30” stickers as license plates, to remove them before they will be penalized.The incoming president has so far not issued any comment on the proliferation of DU30” commemorative plates in the country.