The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) cautioned against the planned shame campaign by the Department of Transportation (DOTr against errant motorists, saying the move does not align with human rights principles.
CHR chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said DOTr’s plan to publish photographs of traffic violators and release videos of errant motorists may lead to discrimination against individuals.
“They should just impose the usual fines on the traffic violators, suspend or revoke their driving licenses,” Palpal-latoc said.
DOTr secretary Vivencio Dizon on Wednesday said he will push through with the plan against motorists who blatantly violate traffic rules, reinforcing the state’s duty to ensure safer roads.
He said the campaign is aimed at imposing discipline on “hard-headed” drivers whose actions endanger the public.
Dizon in a radio interview cited the case of the lawyer who drove on for several minutes despite having a traffic enforcer perched on the hood of her car in Cavite last week.
He also cited the case of a motorist who counter-flowed on the Metro Manila Skyway earlier this month as worthy of inclusion in the shame campaign.
Dizon added that the shame campaign would be reserved for “grave violators” and that he had already asked lawyers to study his proposal.
“I think we really need to implement this to send a message,” he said.
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) however agreed with the CHR, saying the DOTr should not push through with its plan as it may lead to the violation of the rights of motorists.
NUPL-National Capital Region chairperson Atty. Jun Oliva said Dizon’s plan to publish photographs and videos of alleged traffic violators may lead to violations of Republic Act 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012) that protects personal information of individuals. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
