Interview ni Amy Perez kay LTO Director Clarence Guinto trending

THE netizens were impressed how Amy Perez answered LTO Law Enforcement Service acting director Atty. Clarence Guinto when she was told that she needed a bigger car because she happens to have a tall 12-year-old kid.

Amy was able to interview Director Guinto at her program Sakto at the TeleRadyo, Monday morning.

They discussed the obligatory ruling that every car owner should place a child restraint system (CRS) or car seats inside a private car for passenger aged 12 down and with a height lower that 4’11″.

Ang purpose raw nito ay para matiyak ang kaligtasan ng mga bata laban sa biglaang pagpepreno o sakaling magkaroon ng aksidente.

This is in accordance with the full implementation of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act (Republic Act 11229), otherwise called as Child Car Seat Law. It was announced by the LTO that the implementation of the said ruling would take affect starting Tuesday, February 2.

Sa isang bahagi ng interview, tinanong ng TV host ang opisyal tungkol sa panganib na maaaring idulot ng paggamit ng car seat para sa isang batang matangkad.

The video clip of the conversation between Ms. Amy and Director Guinto was posted at the Twitter by ABS-CBN reporter Jeff Canoy.

Ang tweet na iyon ni Jeff ang paulit-ulit na ni-retweet ng netizens ngayong Lunes.

Sa video clip, Ms. Amy said to Director Guinto: “Kung ang 12 years old po ninyo ay sobrang tangkad at siya po ay lalagyan ng booster (car seat), so aangat po ‘yun, Director.”

Nagmuwestra pa si Amy at ipinatong ang kamay sa ibabaw ng sariling ulo.

“Tatama ang ulo sa kotse.

“Hindi po ba mas delikado ‘yun kapag nagkaroon po tayo ng aksidente?”

The LTO official agreed to Amy, after which he gave his own suggestion.

“Tama po ‘yun,” he agreed.

“Siguro po, Ma’am Amy, laki-lakihan mo ‘yung sasakyan mo.”

Biglang nag-react si Amy: “Ay, wala po akong gano’n…”

Natawa naman si Director Guinto, bagamat hindi malinaw kung saan siya natawa, sa reaksiyon ni Amy sa sinabi niya, o sa sarili niyang suggestion.

“Ang pinag-uusapan po natin dito, Director Guinto, ay ‘yung karamihan po sa ating mga Kapamilya…”

“Oo,” natatawa pa ring pagsang-ayon ng opisyal.

Amy went on, “Kailangan din po natin i-consider din po ‘yun.”

The LTO Director answered: “Hayaan mo… at we will take note of that.”

Maraming Twitter users ang pumuri kung paanong sinagot ni Amy ang ‘katangahan’ ng LTO Director.

According to a netizen, hindi raw pag-uusisa ng reporter ang tanong ni Amy kundi mula sa isang “concerned mother.”

Samantala, bandang Lunes ng hapon ay naglabas ng statement si Guinto in connection with the incident.

Nag-apologize siya dahil kanyang na-realize na “inappropriate” ang kanyang sinabi.

Kanyang paglilinaw pa, “made in jest” o nagbibiro lang daw siya sa kanyang isinagot kay Amy.

Nevertheless, hindi naman direktang humingi ng paumanhin si Guinto kay Amy, at hindi rin niya binanggit ang TV host sa kanyang official statement.

In his statement, maayos na sinagot ng LTO director ang tanong ni Amy tungkol sa panganib na posibleng maidulot ng car seat sa batang matangkad.

“I am sorry for the confusion I have caused with my remark, which was made in jest.

“I realize now that it was inappropriate.

“To clarify, if the child is above 4’11″, the child is exempted from using a child car seat under the law and may be secured using the regular seat belt,” Guinto ventured.

Bukod sa paglalagay ng car seats para sa mga batang pasahero, the LTO official stressed na bawal maupo sa front seat, o sa tabi ng driver, ang mga edad 12 anyos pababa.

Dapat raw sa back seat lang ang mga bata, na may uupuang car seat bago pa kabitan ng seat belt para tiyaking ligtas ito sa anumang kapahamakan.

Ang mga motoristang lalabag sa Child Car Seat Law ay pagmumultahin ng P1,000 sa first offense, P2,000 sa pangalawa, at P5,000 at isang taong suspensiyon ng driver’s license sa pangatlo at mga susunod pang paglabag.

Ang mga lalabag namang manufacturer, distributor, importer, retailer, at seller ay pagmumultahin ng P50,000 hanggang P100,000 “for each and every child restraint system manufactured, distributed, imported, and/or sold,” ayon pa rin sa Child Car Seat Law.

Naka-focus raw muna ang LTO sa information dissemination in connection with the new law.

“Instead of issuing tickets or show-cause orders for the violation, we will be in the warning mode as well as distribute information materials,” Valera told the media.

“We came up with a timeline which is between three to six months, that is when we will start our enforcement and apprehension of violators,” he added further.

Follow me on Twitter at Pete Ampoloquio, Jr.

And with that, ito po ang Kuya Pete ninyo na nagsasabing, Christopher, my son, I love you very, very much, my love for you goes beyond eternity.

Adios. Mabalos. I always need you, Nhong!

BANAT!
ni Pete Ampoloquio, Jr.