Groups ask LGUs to defer NCAP as SC motion remains pending

MANILA, Philippines — Transport groups urged six Metro Manila local government units to defer the reimplementation of the Non-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), saying their motion for reconsideration remains pending before the Supreme Court (SC).

Transport leaders Boy Vargas of ALTODAP, Obet Martin of Pasang Masda, and Liberty de Luna of ACTO, said the local governments of Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, and San Juan should await the SC’s final ruling on the legality of the NCAP implementation.

The groups said that NCAP violates due process, with some of its provisions being unreasonable, particularly for public utility vehicle operators.

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“I am not a lawyer, but my understanding of the law is that it should not be implemented yet because our group still has an appeal pending on the matter,” said Vargas in a joint statement on Monday.

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The SC dismissed their consolidated petitions in June, but the transport groups filed a motion for reconsideration on Aug. 5.

Vargas said that transport groups would comply if the SC orders the implementation of NCAP, but asked the local government to wait for the final resolution.

“Our dismissal of the Petitions is confined to the determination that petitioners failed to overcome threshold issues, and that the supervening adoption of a uniform regulatory framework has rendered the Petitions moot,” the SC decision on NCAP read.

READ: Supreme Court junks petitions vs NCAP

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“There is no explicit determination regarding the prior issuances, nor a resolution of grievances based on specific facts,” it added.

Martin said he consulted their lawyer after learned that some local governments planned to resume NCAP.

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“The explanation given to us is that the Supreme Court’s decision does not state that the dismissal of our petition is already final and executory,” said Martin.

De Luna likewise appealed to the concerned local government to defer NCAP implementation and urged them to respect the pending legal process and consider the concerns of public transport operators. /das