2 vehicles with congressional plates caught speeding along 'killer highway'

At least two vehicles with "8" plates were accosted Thursday for violating the 60-kph speed limit along the notorious Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. The vehicles were among at least 99 accosted for violating the speed limit as of Thursday noon, according to a report by radio dzBB's Allan Gatus. Some motorists even tried to bribe Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) enforcers stationed along the "killer highway," the report added. One of the vehicles with "8" plates, a black Toyota Fortuner, was found to belong to Diwa Party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay. The driver of the Fortuner, initially identified as Eugenio Talyar, was found to be driving at 68 kph and was flagged down near the Iglesia ni Cristo compound. However, the report did not immediately say if Aglipay was aboard the vehicle at the time it was flagged down. A second vehicle with an "8" plate was flagged down for cruising at 63 kph. It had a second plate number ZDF-535. The driver, identified as Vicente Santiago, did not immediately say who the House of Representatives member the "8" plate was assigned to. On the other hand, a van driver now faces charges of over-speeding and bribery after allegedly trying to bribe MMDA enforcers. The driver, initially identified as Aaldy Jose Eyan, sandwiched P200 in his driver's license after enforcers flagged down his vehicle (WKH-333). However, the enforcers refused the bribe and informed him he would be charged with bribery. Authorities clamped down on traffic rules along Commonwealth Avenue after a road accident killed journalist-professor Lourdes "Chit" Estella-Simbulan. Estella-Simbulan was killed instantly after a bus rammed her taxi from behind. The driver of the bus remains at large. Since the accident, the MMDA has posted added personnel along the 12.4-km highway, while the Land Transportation Office started predawn patrols Thursday. — LBG/KBK, GMA News