Constant heavy traffic is something all Manila residents must go through; it’s part of living in the densely populated city. It’s normal for people to wake up extra early just to beat morning rush hour but yesterday, one congressman said he wants lawmakers to be immune from minor traffic violations so they don’t miss a Congress session.
Ilocos Norte Representative Rodolfo Fariñas said during a House transport committee hearing that this “parliamentary immunity” can be used when lawmakers are on their way to the House of Representatives to attend a session.
“For example [the lawmaker] hit someone. The person got wounded. If he says he’s a congressman, then he should be arrested later. Our rules are, after the session, the Speaker will surrender the member,” Fariñas said in Filipino.
He suggested that representatives be allowed to proceed to the session instead of being brought to a precinct. They will then surrender to authorities after the session. He said this is so that the lawmaker can still perform his functions in the session.
Jojo Garcia, the assistant general manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the government agency in charge of managing traffic in the area, said during a DZMM radio interview today that they are yet to receive a formal request from Congress regarding the matter.
Garcia also reminded that the decision to grant the request is not the sole responsibility of the MMDA. It will also have to be approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC) which is made up of 17 mayors.
