METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES: The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday said it will appeal the Supreme Court (SC) ruling clipping its powers to issue traffic-violation receipts and confiscate drivers' licenses.

"Mag-a-appeal kami sa Supreme Court dahil sa mukhang sa tingin ko ay hindi yata tama 'yon, aapela kami (We will appeal before the Supreme Court because in my view, this is not right)," MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando told DZMM's morning program "Tambalang Failon at Sanchez."

The Supreme Court earlier stripped the MMDA of its power to issue traffic-violation receipts (TVRs) and confiscate drivers’ license, saying the agency has no police power under the law. The ruling said Section 5F of Republic Act 7924, the law creating the MMDA, which authorizes the agency to confiscate, suspend or revoke drivers’ licenses, is an "unauthorized exercise of police power."

Fernando said the MMDA was even unaware there was such a case filed before the Court's five-man Second Division.

In fact, Fernando said, the MMDA has not received a copy of the Supreme Court ruling.

"Wala pa akong nakikitang order, kung may order sila kung anuman hindi ko nalalaman sapagkat alam ko hindi naman basta puwedeng ipatigil naman ng korte ng ganun-ganun sapagkat sino ang manghuhuli niyan sa ating mga kalye. Magpipiyesta ang lahat ng driver (I haven't seen a copy of the order. If they (Supreme Court) have an order, I have no knowledge of it. As far as I know, they can't just stop us just like that. Who will be there in the streets? All drivers will have a field day on this)," Fernando said.

The Supreme Court ruling, he said, also had direct impact on all MMDA operations. It will affect all of the agency's traffic policies such as number-coding, the pink fences, and the wet rag scheme, among others.

He added the high tribunal's ruling had rendered the MMDA "useless" and without authority to even have control of its own budgetary allocations, much less pay wages of MMDA employees.

Fernando also stated he is in favor of amending the charter of the MMDA in light of the Supreme Court ruling.

Businessman Dante Garin, a lawyer by profession, filed the case six years ago after he was apprehended by MMDA personnel in Manila for parking violations. He first filed the case before the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque, where he's a resident, and won.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com