The Land Transportation Office has revoked the driver’s license of former beauty queen Maria Isabel Lopez.

This stems from the case filed against her by the MMDA for illegally using the traffic lane reserved for ASEAN delegates earlier this month

Inquirer photo/Noy Morcoso

Lopez is also prohibited from applying or reacquiring her license for the next 2 years, according to MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago.

In addition, Lopez will also pay an P8,000 penalty for reckless driving, disregarding traffic signs, and violation of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, Pialago added.

The actress earlier admitted in a Facebook video post that she removed the traffic cones along EDSA separating the lanes for delegates of the ASEAN Summit.

Here is the full statement of the DOTr-LTO:

———DOTr PRESS RELEASE

27 November 2017

DOTR-LTO Slaps PhP8K Fine Vs. Maria Isabel Lopez, Revokes Her Driver’s License Over ASEAN Lane Incident

Metro Manila — The Department of Transportation-Land Transportation Office (DOTr-LTO) has revoked the driver’s license of former beauty queen and actress Ma. Isabel Lopez for removing orange cones and plying the ASEAN Lane along EDSA last November 11.

In a resolution dated Nov. 23, 2017, Assistant Secretary and LTO chief Edgar Galvante also ordered Lopez, whose real name is Maria Isabel Lopez Yokohama, to pay a total of PhP8,000 fine for disregarding traffic signs, reckless driving, and violation of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act.

Yokohama is expected to surrender her license, which will expire on September 2018, within 24-hours upon receipt of the resolution to the office of the LTO Director for Law Enforcement.

The resolution read that “…respondent Yokohama expressly admitted her failure to meet the conditions concomitant with the grant of her license. The defenses she proffered are considered lame and merely self-serving.”

“Worse, she showed no remorse and even publicized with gusto her improper and illegal acts on social media, which betray her utter lack of responsibility as a licensed driver, thus making her an improper person to operate a motor vehicle,” it added.

The LTO resolution also noted that “a person with a driver’s license is likewise expected to give due consideration to other motorists and pedestrians and avoid committing acts which endanger lives, properties and public safety.

In her defense, Yokohama alleged that she asked permission from an MMDA traffic enforcer to allow her to pass through the ASEAN Lanes but was denied.

She requested again the traffic enforcer that she be allowed to use the ASEAN lane but the MMDA personnel left in the middle of their conversation.

Last November 11, 2017, Yokohama uploaded her photo and two videos, claiming that she managed to drive along the lane designated exclusively for ASEAN Summit delegates after removing the cones.

Yokohama’s actions were denounced by the DOTr leadership and the ASEAN Committee on Security, Peace and Order and Emergency Preparedness and Response, warning the general public not to emulate her actions and behavior.

Yokohama also drew a lot of flak from hundreds of netizens after the incident. 
——

Here are images of the resolution: