MEMBERS of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been strictly barred from using the EDSA busway while driving unauthorized motor vehicles with violators to face administrative sanctions once apprehended, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

PNP The Chief Directorial Staff, Lieutenant General Emmanuel B. Peralta issued the memorandum regarding the usage of EDSA Bus Lanes amid continuing reports on unauthorized vehicles using the special lane, among them members of the police force.

“These apprehensions give a negative impact on the public perception of the entire PNP organization. In this regard, remind your personnel to avoid using the EDSA bus lane and lead by example as public safety officers,” the official said.

“Be informed that aside from buses, only ambulances, firetrucks and vehicles responding to an immediate public and order, public safety and security, disaster or similar emergency situations are allowed to use the EDSA bus lanes,” he added.

On orders of PNP chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., the official said that ‘any personnel caught using the EDSA bus lane shall face administrative sanctions in accordance to existing laws, policies, rules and regulations.’

PNP spokesperson, Colonel Jean S. Fajardo said all members of the police force have been reminded to strictly comply with the Camp Crame memorandum. The only exception is that when police are using clearly-marked PNP vehicles.

Fajardo said members of the police force who will be found using the EDSA Bus Lane while driving their private cars or motorcycles face not only fines imposed by the Metro Manila Council but also administrative cases with some penalties.

The Department of Transportation earlier specified the government vehicles that are allowed to use the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) busway aside from Land Transportation

The DoTR said five high-ranking government officials are allowed to use the EDSA busway are the President, the Vice President, the Senate President, Speaker of the House, and the Chief Justice.

Also allowed to pass thru the lane are on-duty ambulances, fire trucks, marked PNP vehicles and other service vehicles of government agencies involved in the EDSA busway.

Other vehicles serving as escorts for those five high-ranking officials are also allowed to pass through EDSA busway.

However, other high-ranking officials such as ambassadors, congressmen, and cabinet members are not allowed to pass through the EDSA busway with enforcers now forbidden from making a judgment call as to who to allow through the exclusive lane.

Following the DoTR announcement, the House of Representatives ordered the recall of all protocol license plates bearing the number 8 after a vehicle caught improperly using the EDSA bus lane bore the government-issued number.

In a memorandum to House members dated November 16, Secretary General Reginald Velasco requested “the immediate recall of all expired Protocol Plates No. 8 issued during the past Congresses as well as all spurious protocol 8 plates which may have come to your attention.”

The House action came in the wake of the suspension of MMDA Task Force Special Operations chief Bong Nebrija who was quoted as saying that vehicles belonging to Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. and former Ako-Bicol party-list representative Christopher Co had improperly used the EDSA busway.

Nebrija and the MMDA leadership led by chairman Don Artes later apologized to Revilla and Co after they found out during investigation that the names of the two were only ‘name-dropped’ by the drivers apprehended.

The MMDA has has increased the fines and penalties up to P30,000 for illegally driving through the EDSA busway to deter repeat offenders.

Apart from increasing the fines from P1,000 for each offense, the driver’s license would also get suspended for repeated violations.

Under MMDA Regulation No. 23-002, the new fines and penalties will be P5,000 for the first offense and a second offense will result in a P10,000 fine, one-month suspension of driver’s license and participation in a road safety seminar.

Repeating the violation for a third time will also result in a P20,000 fine plus one-year suspension of driver’s license, while a fourth offense will result to a P30,000 fine plus a recommendation to the Land Transportation Office for revocation of the driver’s license of the offender.

The fines and penalties will apply to both public and private vehicles.

Artes said the increase in fines and penalties is neither “anti-poor” nor a money-making scheme.

“Based on our data and observation, there are those who are willing to pay the P1,000 fines and violate the exclusivity of the bus lane because they can afford it. Kalimitan kotse ng mayayaman,” the official said.

Other noted violators are motorcycle drivers.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon