By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz and Catherine N. Pillas
A RESOLUTION calling for an investigation against Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) following the reported sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) incidents involving Mitsubishi Montero sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) has been filed at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Bayan Muna Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate, authors of House Resolution 2531, said the incidents were largely due to the negligence in part of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to conduct safety inspections
The lawmakers also urged the government to regulate, inspect and investigate motor-vehicle producers to protect public safety. Meanwhile, the DTI ordered the creation of an investigating panel to probe alleged reports of SUA of the Montero model.
“We take as emphasis the recurring and persisting incidents of unintended sudden acceleration suspiciously involving only certain brands of vehicles, specifically Mitsubishi Montero SUVs. This issue has caused alarm mostly because lives have been taken and put into risk and moreover, because despite these bludgeoning irregularities, the DTI did not initiate any investigation or measures to address the mentioned vehicle model if proven to be injurious, dangerous and unsafe, in accordance to the 1992 Consumer Act,” they said.
Citing the recent hearing conducted by the House Committee on Trade and Industry, the lawmakers said the MMPC verified and admitted that there were 97 reported cases of SUA.
“Moreover, among all the cases documented, six lives have been taken including three from Malolos, Bulacan, and a certain garbage collector,” they added.
Considering these cases, the lawmakers said the House Committee on Trade and Industry adopted the motion to recommend the stop the purchase of Mitsubishi Montero Sport.
The committee also urged the DTI to order and pull out the vehicle model in the market until the SUA issue has been resolved. Nothing was heard from DTI since that hearing, they said.
The MMPC said the SUA claims insinuating that the Montero Sport is defective are without any basis and that the Montero Sport is neither defective nor unsafe to use.