PUV drivers whose passengers do not observe distancing will have licenses confiscated

September 18, 2020

Drivers of public vehicles whose passengers violate the one-meter distance will see their licenses confiscated, a police official warned on Friday.

In a TV interview, Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander, said there will be police marshalls in terminals to make sure  public utility vehicles are following minimum health protocols.

“For violations of drivers inside the motor vehicles, what the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and our law enforcers are doing is to... confiscate their licenses and then there is a corresponding fine and they can reclaim it at LTO (Land Transportation Office),” Eleazar said.

The JTF commander said the chief of the Philippine National Police, General Camilo Cascolan has directed unit commanders in the field to conduct random inspections inside PUVs.

“It is being led actually by the Highway Patrol Group but of course, all other police stations nationwide are doing this particularly in Metro Manila,” he said.

“We are randomly doing it because we cannot check all these vehicles but the point is if ever that there is violation seen by law enforcers inside the vehicle and even on the terminal, the drivers will be cited,” Eleazar added.

Malacanang on Thursday said the Department of Transportation has suspended the implementation of reduced physical distancing in PUV’s while waiting for President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision whether to maintain it after some IATF officials and health experts refused the idea as it will result to another spike of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The DOTr implemented reduced physical distancing from one meter to 0.75 meters last September 14 , saying it was the clamor of the transportation sector. Ella Dionsio/DMS