Can someone reserve a parking space by standing in it?

There is no denying that finding a parking space is one taxing task for motorists in the busy metro nowadays, but is it lawful to reserve one by standing in it?

Jam Sisante-Cayco's report in GMA News TV's Balitanghali on Monday featured a viral video where two men were captured bickering at a mall's parking lot.

One man was yelling at a driver for parking on the space that he was "saving" for a car which was supposedly on the way.

"Hindi nga bawal kasi nga may bata 'yung magpa-park," the man who stood said.

To which the driver responded: "May bata din po kaming kasama... Tawag po tayo guard kung may problema po tayo."

In the end, the man who was trying to reserve the slot had no choice but to let the driver take it.

According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), reserving a parking space by standing in it is not in line with parking regulations.

"A parking slot is reserved for a vehicle, hindi sa tao... Tatandaan po natin na ang parking na 'yan whether private or public is first come, first serve," MMDA EDSA traffic chief Bong Nebrija said. —Dona Magsino/LDF, GMA News