SC lifts TRO against MMDA's NCAP; order vs Metro LGU ordinances still enforced

The Supreme Court (SC) lifted partially its Aug. 30, 2022 temporary restraining order (TRO) as far as it stopped the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from enforcing its resolution on No-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) for traffic violations.

- By REY PANALIGAN

However, SC spokesperson lawyer Camille Sue Mae L. Ting explained that the TRO issued against NCAP based on ordinances issued by the local government unit (LGUS) in Metro Manila remains enforced.

This means that MMDA's NCAP can be enforced only in major thoroughfares like the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and C-5.

During a press briefing, Ting said: "The SC granted the Urgent Motion filed by the Office of the Solicitor General on behalf of the Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA), partially lifting the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued on August 30, 2022, insofar as it enjoined the MMDA from implementing MMDA Resolution No. 16-01, or its NCAP." In August 2024, the OSG through Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra also pleaded, on behalf of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the lifting of the SC's TRO against NCAP.

In that pleading, Guevarra cited the drastic increase in traffic violations and accidents since the TRO was issued.

He said the number of traffic violations has gone up to about 257,000 as recorded by CCTV [closed-circuit television] cameras of the MMDA.

He told the SC that in May 2023 alone, 32,000 traffic violations were recorded, which was almost four times higher compared to the 9,500 average traffic violations per month reported before the implementation of the TRO on NCAP.