Actress and beauty queen Maria Isabel Lopez may have her driver’s license suspended or revoked after she admitted on social media that she drove on the exclusive lane for the delegates to the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit to escape the horrendous traffic along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue or Edsa.
In a statement shared by the Department of Foreign Affairs, National Capital Region Police Office director Oscar Albayalde on Sunday, the task group commander for Asean route security, said his office fully supports the recommendation of two other agencies for the suspension or revocation of Lopez’s driver’s license for violation of traffic rules and for breach of security.
“We strongly support the recommendation for the suspension or revocation of Ms. Ma. Isabel Lopez driver’s license,” Albayalde said.
“A person of her stature should be an example to the Filipino community but she did just the contrary,” he added.
Albayalde said the incident should serve as a “stern warning and reminder” to the public.
Later, the Asean committee on security, peace and order, and emergency preparedness and response warned the public against defying the traffic plan put in place in connection with the Asean Summit or face criminal charges.
The committee chairperson, Interior and Local Government Secretary Catalino Cuy, issued the stern warning after Lopez admitted on Saturday she disregarded traffic regulations by removing the divider cones or traffic barriers in place used for the smooth flow of traffic and to “reserve” priority lanes for Asean delegates.
“In the same post, she also mentioned that several motorists took advantage of what she did and followed suit,” the committee report read, in a Facebook message posted by Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board spokesperson Aileen Lizada.
Lopez’s behavior should neither be condoned nor tolerated, Cuy said, adding her violation could put risk to the lives of both the delegates and the public.
“As a public figure, Ms. Lopez must be mindful of the impacts of her actions. We tirelessly remind the people that traffic rules are created to save lives and put order in the management of traffic flow, especially now that we are hosting the Asean Summit. We will not allow someone like her to simply put our plans to naught,” Cuy said. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Rio N. Araja
“All agencies are communicating and are all working hard to provide security and order for the Asean summit. Any violations on the protocols and rules set forth by the Asean Task Force shall not be tolerated,” Albayalde said.
The Binibining Pilipinas Universe in 1982, Lopez boasted that after she did that, other motorists also followed suit as she drove along the ASEAN lane.
“I removed the divider cones! Then all other motorists behind me followed! MMDA thinks I’m official ASEAN delegate! If you can’t beat them, join them!” Lopez wrote on her official Facebook account.
The MMDA said that Lopez’s action is a “serious breach of security.”
“MMDA and LTFRB will recommend to the LTO (Land Transportation Office) the suspension or cancellation of the driver’s license of Maria Isabel Lopez,” MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said in a message to reporters.
Pialago added that even an apology would not get Lopez off the hook.