Police Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil neither confirmed nor denied allegations that he was on board one of the vehicles caught illegally passing through the EDSA busway in Ortigas.
In a statement General Marbil did not say he was on board in one of the vehicles but defended the convoy’s use of the busway as they were in an emergency situation.
This incident occurred after traffic enforcers from the Department of Transportation-Special Action and Intelligence Committee on Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) flagged down vehicles passing through the EDSA busway on Tuesday night.
When asked, one of the police officers with the convoy revealed that it was the PNP chief.
Marbil explained that senior police officials were in a hurry to attend a highly important closed-door meeting at Camp Crame.
Previously, Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo stated that the apprehended vehicles were part of a convoy carrying senior police officials holding sensitive positions.
However, she did not disclose the officials’ names due to security concerns.
Fajardo clarified that the convoy used the EDSA Busway because they were rushing to Camp Crame for the meeting.
Since the SAICT did not accept the police escorts’ explanation, the driver of one vehicle left the scene to drop off the passengers and later returned to receive the traffic violation citation tickets.
Fajardo emphasized that they did not intend to abuse their privileges by passing through the busway.
She added that they would meet with DOTr officials to discuss the use of the busway during emergency police operations.
According to the guidelines of DOTr, the EDSA busway is exclusively for buses with special permits.
Only five high-ranking officials – the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, and Supreme Court Chief Justice – are allowed to use the busway.
Other permitted vehicles include on-duty ambulances, police vehicles, firetrucks, and busway maintenance vehicles.
(DOTr-SAICT photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.