DOTR OFFICIAL IN VIRAL VIDEO ASKED TO EXPLAIN USE OF SUV WITH PROTOCOL PLATE, VIP BLINKERS 

DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez has asked DOTr Undersecretary for Internal Audit and Special Concerns Ricky Alfonso to explain why he should not be sanctioned with disciplinary actions following his involvement in a viral road incident, including the use of protocol plate number “10” and ‘VIP’ blinkers.

The order follows President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to hold all public officials accountable for any action done in the performance of their duties.

In a Notice to Explain (NTE) memo issued on October 10, Lopez emphasized that public officials are constitutionally mandated to “be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, and act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”

Lopez said the use of protocol plates and the unauthorized use of blinkers do not automatically confer any sort of VIP status to any public official.

Alfonso was given three days to submit his explanation regarding the incident.

Earlier, Lopez announced that the DOTr official’s driver was already fired following the incident, and his license was also suspended for 90 days based on a show cause order issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).