The Land Transportation Office 11 (LTO 11) blamed the present working hours of its law enforcers for their lousy performance in the implementation of Republic Act 10586 or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving act of 2013.
“We must also consider that LTO law enforcers ang among panahon is office hours mi 8am to 5 pm and usually kaning mga drunk drivers mahitabo ni sa gabii man gud (We must also consider that working hours of the LTO enforcers is 8 am to 5 pm and most of the drunk drivers will be on the roads during night time),” LTO 11 Law Enforcement officer Jun Antonio said on Wednesday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media briefing. Antonio said the LTO national office already reprimanded them for their minimal apprehension on the law because only few enforcers who could lend more time during nighttime since there is no overtime pay.
He said they consulted the Commission on Audit on the overtime pay however it will be until 10 pm. Antonio said that the ideal time to apprehend drunk drivers is between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. and they could not work beyond 10 p.m. because of the COA regulation for the overtime.
“In the meantime, sakripisyo lang sa jud para sa bayan. Mao na akong ingon sa mga enforcers nga antus-antos lang usa ta (In the meantime, we are just scarificing it for the country. I told the enforcers to just sacrifice for the meantime),” he said.
When asked about the numbers of their apprehension since its implementation on 2015, Antonio could not provide such.
“Wala koy exact na figure from the past years, 2016 and 2017. Pero, for this year 2018 LTO has not yet apprehended drunk drivers,” he said.
He said the LTO 11 is now asking for the help of Davao City Police Office – Traffic Group (DCPO-TG) to help them implement the law because they have personnel who are working at night. DCPO director Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum said he already ordered DCPO-TG head Supt. Ernesto Catillo to intensify the apprehension of all traffic violators at night since this is the mandate given to him by Mayor Sara Z. Duterte.
