Malacañang on Monday urged Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Alberto Suansing to identify the congressmen who had allegedly tried to register their smuggled luxury vehicles.

Chief presidential counsel Sergio Apostol said in an interview that Suansing should also pursue cases against the lawmakers who reportedly tried to force the LTO chief to register their smuggled vehicles.

“We also urge the LTO chief to name names and act accordingly. This is a serious matter because the President herself ordered the ban on the importation of secondhand vehicles,” Apostol said.

Apostol said Suansing should also “file charges” if there is strong evidence to bolster any case, and that Malacañang is prepared to support the LTO chief.

“If there is evidence, the Palace will support government officials who are only doing their job. Hopefully, the congressmen will not take this the wrong way,” he said.

Suansing earlier revealed that he had refused to register some congressmen’s secondhand cars imported in 2006 and 2007 as these are covered by the ban ordered by the President, and that he would not renew the registration of previously registered smuggled vehicles.

Suansing earlier asked the House leadership to control the use of “8” license plates that, he said, are being used even by individuals who are not members of Congress.

Under the LTO’s license-plate protocol system, the “8” license plate is issued to members of the House of Representatives only.

Suansing said some congressmen lend their official license plates, particularly those that are no longer up to date, to other individuals.

However, several members of the House reacted to Suansing’s accusation and dared him to identify the legislators who abuse their protocol license plates. (With J. Perez)

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