A commotion broke out between a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcer and an airport police member who was caught using the EDSA Busway on Sunday.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) received a report and video footage regarding the incident on Sunday afternoon.
The SAICT said an official airport police vehicle traversed a portion of the northbound lane of the EDSA Busway when it was accosted by an MMDA enforcer. The driver, a man in an airport police uniform, refused to present his driver’s license and give his identity.
When the MMDA enforcement officer attempted to take video footage of their exchange, the man attempted to grab it, triggering a commotion.
Eventually, the SAICT said the airport police member who also introduced himself as an employee of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), was cited for illegally using the EDSA Busway and will be fined accordingly.
GMA News Online has reached out to the concerned agencies for more details.
The Metro Manila Council (MMC) earlier approved a resolution increasing the penalty for those who will use the exclusive city bus lane/bus carousel lane along EDSA.
Under MMDA Regulation No. 23-002, the increased fines for the violation of both public and private vehicles are:
- First offense – P5,000
- Second offense – P10,000 plus one-month suspension of driver’s license, and required to undergo a road safety seminar
- Third offense – P20,000 plus one-year suspension of driver’s license
- Fourth offense – P30,000 plus recommendation to Land Transportation Office for revocation of driver’s license
Currently, only buses plying the EDSA Busway route, PNP vehicles, and marked emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks are allowed to use the busway.
For government officials, only the President, Senate President , Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court are permitted to use the busway as part of their official functions.—RF, GMA Integrated News
