A partylist congressman has proposed stiff penalties, including prison terms, for persons found operating or owning colorum public utility vehicles 

Under House Bill 4086 filed by ANGKLA partylist Rep. Jesulito Manalo, an owner or operator of a colorum vehicle shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of prision correccional (six months and one day to six years) in its maximum period or a fine, or both, subject to the discretion of the trial court hearing the case.

"One of the patent causes of road tragedies is the unabated and blatant operation of colorum or unauthorized public motor vehicles, which are considered as menaces that further clog our roads," said Manalo, an ally of the National Unity Party (NUP) under the Coalition for Peace and Development.

Manalo’s proposed "Anti-Colorum Act" also imposes the following fines: 1) public utility bus - P1-million; 2) UV Express - P200,000; 3) taxi - P125,000; and 4) public utility jeepney - P50,000.

The bill also provides for the confiscation or suspension of the driver’s license of the person found driving the colorum vehicle for a period of twelve months for the first offense. For the second offense, the person’s license  will be perpetually revoked.

"Perpetual revocation should be understood to completely disqualify said driver from being granted any type of driver's license thereafter," Manalo explained, adding that the colorum motor vehicle used shall likewise be permanently confiscated by the LTFRB.

HB 4086 also provides that all permits and franchises issued in favor of the owner and/or operator of a PUV used and operated as a colorum, including those that pertain to other PUVs even not used and operated as colorum, shall be revoked.

"Further, the said owner/operator shall likewise be perpetually disqualified to operate any kind of public land transportation," the bill states.

In the case of a private vehicle used as colorum, its  owner or operator found guilty under the proposed law will also be perpetually disqualified from applying and operating any kind of public land transportation.

The bill also states that "if the use of colorum motor vehicle resulted in another criminal offense punishable under the Revised Penal Code (RPC), such as, but not limited to physical injuries, damage to property and/or homicide, such use of colorum motor vehicle shall be considered as an aggravating circumstance."

"It is unfortunate that amidst the many public land transport mechanisms presently in force, there are also numerous traffic and vehicular accidents that are encountered, most of which result in injury and even to loss of lives," Manalo said.

 “In the event that the owner and/or operator is a juridical person, the partners, in case of partnership, and the members of the board, in case of a corporation, shall be held liable,” HB 4086 states.