The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will abide by the status quo ante order issued Tuesday by the Supreme Court against its controversial project of tagging motor vehicles with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device.

DOTC Undersecretary Thompson Lantion, spokesman of the department said they still have to receive a copy of the SC order but assured that they will comply with the directive.

“If that’s the order of the highest court in the land, then we will have to respect it,” Lantion told Manila Bulletin over the phone.

Arturo Lomibao, the chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) which is the implementor of the project was reportedly in a meeting with DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza at the DOTC headquarters in Mandaluyong City late Tuesday afternoon.

His spokesman Jason Salvador when reached by Manila Bulletin through a telephone call said he could not give a statement yet regarding the SC decision since he has yet to talk to his boss and has yet to get access with the High Tribunal’s order.

The SC decision bars the LTO to temporarily stop collecting fees for the new motor vehicle identification system that was implemented last January 4.

The status quo ante order effectively directs the LTO to observe the situation prevailing before the filing of the petition of militant groups for a temporary restraining order and prohibition on the implementation of the RFID system last December 16, 2009.

One of the petitioners, George San Mateo, Secretary General of transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) welcomed the SC decision.