The SUV driver who illegally used the EDSA busway with a fake “7” protocol plate assigned to senators has surrendered to authorities, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said on Wednesday.
“Today I would like to announce that the mystery behind the ownership and the people behind the controversial SUV with a number 7 protocol plate on EDSA busway is already solved,” LTO chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II said in a press conference.
“The driver and the registered owner of the SUV contacted us yesterday and informed us that they would show up and take responsibility for the unfortunate incident at Guadalupe, Makati,” he added.
The driver was identified as Angelito Edpan, 52, an employee of Orient Pacific Corporation, which owns the involved vehicle.
They were transporting investors when the incident happened, Edpan said.
Edpan denied any knowledge of how the fake “7” protocol plate was obtained. According to Orient Pacific Corporation, an investigation is being conducted regarding the matter.
According to Edpan, two guests and another company driver were on board the vehicle when the incident happened. He said they came from a restaurant and were heading to a mall.
He said he was not aware of the identities of the guests.
Edpan apologized for his actions and said that nobody instructed him to enter the EDSA busway.
“Wala po na nag-utos sa akin. Ano talaga, nagmamadali na ako. Sinubukan ko kasi akala ko noong Linggo walang ano kaya sinubukan kong pumasok,” he said.
(No one ordered me. I was really in a hurry. I tried [entering the EDSA busway] because it was a Sunday and I thought there would be no [prohibition] so I tried to enter.)
Orient Pacific Corporation director Omar Guinomla said the company will cooperate with the investigation.
“Our group came here to apologize to LTO and sa mga principals because of the incident. That’s our main purpose that’s why we are here,” he said.
“Rest assured we will cooperate with the investigation. In fact, meron din kami (we also have an) internal investigation of our own. Siguro (Maybe) within the day, we will be making a statement regarding this,” he added.
The LTO said Edpan committed violations including disregarding traffic signs which comes with a P1,000 fine, reckless driving with P2,000 fine, illegal use of protocol plate with P5,000 fine, and failure to attach regular plate with P1,000 fine.
A show cause order will be issued to the Orient Pacific Corporation. —KG, GMA Integrated News
