PNP-HPG confiscates green plates from diesel vehicles

The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) confiscated green license plates from two diesel-powered vehicles, a Nissan Terra SUV and a Nissan Navara pickup truck.

The owners of the vehicles voluntarily surrendered the plates over the weekend after photos of them misusing the special plates circulated online.

Businessman Oliver Cutamora, owner of the Nissan Terra, stated he had informed his car dealership about receiving a green plate for his diesel vehicle as early as 2023 and was assured the issue would be addressed with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

PNP-HPG Director Col. Hansel Marantan confirmed that both vehicle owners presented LTO documents indicating they were issued the green plates.

Green plates are exclusively for hybrid and electric vehicles and grant exemptions from traffic decongestion programs, as per Republic Act No. 11697.

Marantan stated that culpability cannot yet be determined, as the owners presented official LTO documents, but the possibility of falsification of documents exists if the plates were not legitimately issued.