CAGAYAN de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has supported the “no wang wang” policy of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the “no 8 plates” directive of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

“Let us have a level playing field in suffering the terrible traffic situation. All officials must go early to their appointments taking into account the traffic. No one should be above the traffic crisis,” Rodriguez said.

He said the use of sirens and police escorts “are a symbol of entitlement of power and privileges, which our people frown upon and do not accept.”

“They regard public officials who flaunt their position, power and influence as arrogant who should not be emulated,” he said.

Rodriguez added that public officers should heed the admonition in the Code of Conduct for Public Officials and Employees that they should “at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest.”

“We are not leading or living modest lives if we demand that we should be entitled to certain privileges as public servants,” he stressed.

The Mindanao lawmaker also proposed that only five officials be allowed to use protocol plates.

He said these are the President, Vice President, Senate president, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and chief justice of the Supreme Court.

He said other members of Congress, Cabinet members and other officials should use regular plates.

He said he could not understand why many officials, including undersecretaries, judges and prosecutors, are using low-numbered plates.

“I have never used No. 8 since I became a congressman in 2007,” he added.

In an advisory to House members, Speaker Romualdez said in view of the issuance by the President of Executive Order No. 56 last March 25, “we are not authorized to use the protocol ‘8’ plates.”

“Further, please be guided by the provisions of Sec. 4 of E.O. No. 400, series of 2005, on the transfer or assignment of protocol plates to unauthorized persons,” the Speaker said.

He said the House would coordinate with the Land Transportation Office and the Metro Manila Development Authority on the use of protocol plates once the rules implementing EO No. 400 are issued.

Under the President’s order, those allowed to use low-numbered plates are the President, Vice President, Senate president, Speaker, chief justice and associate justices of the Supreme Court, Cabinet members, senators, House members, presiding justice of the Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals and Sandiganbayan, solicitor general, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police chief, Ombudsman, and chairpersons of constitutional commissions.