By Clarist Mae Zablan
(February 26, 2025) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday explained that a police convoy was seen using the EDSA Busway on Tuesday due to an emergency, maintaining that government guidelines allow them to do so.
PNP Chief P/Gen. Rommel Marbil noted that the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) guidelines also allow police vehicles to use the EDSA Busway in case of emergency and national issues.
“That is an emergency that we have to call, dahil meron po kaming operation last night,” Marbil said in a phone interview.
Meanwhile, Interior Sec. Jonvic Remulla clarified that he did not order Marbil to violate traffic laws to respond to the emergency.
“He was aware of the operations. We were in constant communication. I asked him to appear, so kung anuman ang methodology niya para papunta roon, let me make it clear, I did not give instructions to violate any traffic laws to get there,” Remulla said in a press briefing.
DOTr’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) said the police convoy, consisting of a motorcycle and two sports utility vehicles, were not ticketed at first because they left after they were apprehended in the Ortigas area. But another motorcycle returned to receive the ticket.
A police personnel claimed that the convoy was Marbil’s. The police chief did not directly confirm nor deny this.
The PNP plans to discuss with SAICT to clarify protocols on the use of the EDSA Busway, PNP public information office chief P/Col. Randulf Tuaño said.
“Makikipag-usap ulit ang PNP at DOTr para pag-usapan na baka sakaling magkaroon ng leeway ‘yung mga emergency unit na nagreresponde upang mapagbigyan ng paggamit for as long as mayroong mga uniformed personnel at official ‘yung kanilang paggamit ng bus lane,” he said.
(With reports from Bryan Castillo, News5)
(CD)
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