The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 has ordered an intensified crackdown of unauthorized plates of vehicles as identified by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., PRO-6 director, issued a directive to all field commanders to include in the conduct of checkpoint operations the confiscation of invalid or unregistered commemorative plates still actively used by motorists.

Cruz’s order came after Dennis Singson, regional director of the Land Transportation Office VI, furnished him a copy of the memorandum from DOTC on the proliferation of unauthorized plates in Iloilo City.

DOTC Undersecretary for Operations, Eduardo Oban, Jr., specifically pointed out two unauthorized plates: Philippine National Police Academy Class 1989 (Tagapagbuklod) and the City of Iloilo 75th Charter Anniversary. 

In his letter, Oban confirmed that the two plates were not included in LTO’s list of valid commemorative plates.

Cruz said the use of commemorative plate must have a written authority from LTO.

"Kailangan po na ang gumagamit ng (commemorative) plate na ito ay may dalang written authority at resibo," he said adding that commemorative plate is not transferrable.

He also stressed that commemorative plate is, by general rule, valid only for one year except when expressly extended for a longer period by the DOTC Secretary.

Aside from use of unauthorized of commemorative plates, Cruz also ordered the strict implementation of the "No Plate, No Travel" policy of the PNP.

"Kailangan po masisibat sa ating checkpoint ang mga motorista na nagadadala ng sasakyan na walang plate number," he said.

The policy aims to accost carnappers and other criminals who use motorcycles and four-wheeled motor vehicles in committing crimes.*