DILG vehicle caught using EDSA busway
A vehicle allegedly registered under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was caught by traffic enforcers using the EDSA busway in Quezon City.
In a video by the Department of Transportation-Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT), several traffic enforcers could be seen attempting to stop an AUV from passing after it went through the bus lane.
The driver, however, continued to move forward and nearly ran through one of the enforcers before it was eventually pulled over to the side.
According to Jonathan Gesmundo, spokesperson for the DOTr-SAICT, the driver identified himself as a police officer from the DILG.
"Marami naman kasing ibang enforcer na nando'n pero isa lang 'yung talagang hindi gumalaw, at hinarangan niya 'yung harapan ng sasakyan," Gesmundo told GMA News.
"Nakarehistro ang sasakyan sa DILG, at nagpakilala nga, ayon doon sa mga enforcer, nagpakilalang pulis daw siya from DILG," he added. (The DILG has yet to comment on the matter.)
The driver reasoned that he's a resident of Nueva Ecija, which is why he wasn't aware of the restricted use of the busway. His license has been confiscated by enforcers and he has also been slapped with a P5,000 fine for his first offense.
The EDSA busway is only reserved for on-duty ambulances, fire trucks, and vehicles from the Philippine National Police. It can also be used by those carrying the five highest officials in the government, namely, the president, vice president, Senate president, House Speaker, and the Supreme Court Chief Justice.
Now that the holiday season will bring about a rush in traffic, Gesmundo said that there may be an increase in EDSA busway violators, which is why the DOTr is considering imposing stiffer penalties such as increased fines.
A similar incident also took place this November after a sports utility vehicle with plate number 7, which is assigned to senators, allegedly passed through the exclusive bus lane and attempted to run over a female traffic enforcer.
While the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said that the "7" protocol plate attached to the SUV in the viral video is fake, the driver apologized for the traffic violation and stressed it wasn't his intention to commit any wrongdoing, much less hurt the traffic enforcer who apprehended him.
Unauthorized usage of the EDSA bus lane incurs a P5,000 fine on the first offense; a P10,000 fine, one-month suspension of driver’s license, and a road safety seminar on the second offense; a P20,000 fine and one-year suspension of driver’s license on the third offense; and P30,000 fine and cancellation of driver’s license on the fourth offense.