Lola using cellphone while driving given ticket on EDSA

A senior citizen and a cop were among the 24 motorists who were issued traffic violation tickets by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday.

According to Oscar Oida's report on "24 Oras," the enforcers caught the senior citizen using her cell phone while driving, violating the Anti-Distracted Driving Act.

“Nakikiusap lang ako huwag na po, pwede po ba? Paki lang po paki. Pasko Chinese po ngayon ayaw ko makipag away,” she told the authorities but she was still issued a violation ticket.

(I'm just begging you not to give me a ticket, can you? Just please, please. Today is Chinese Christmas, I don't want to fight.)

A police officer, meanwhile, was caught along the EDSA lane reserved for public buses.

“Even though it's a holiday, even though na walang barrier, kung alam natin bawal pumasok sa busway na yan huwag tayo papasok,” said Gabriel Go, MMDA Special Operations Strike Force officer in charge.

(Even though it's a holiday, even though there is no barrier, if we know that we are not allowed to enter that busway, let's not enter.)

A total of 24 people were apprehended earlier, 13 were caught illegally using the EDSA busway, including the police officer. 

Despite this, the MMDA said there has been a decrease in motorists using the busway. 

In November, the MMDA implemented stiffer fines for EDSA Busway violators.

Under MMDA Regulation No. 23-002, the increased fines for the violation of both public and private vehicles are the following:

First offense – P5,000

Second offense – P10,000 plus one-month suspension of driver’s license, and required to undergo a road safety seminar

Third offense – P20,000 plus one-year suspension of driver’s license

Fourth offense – P30,000 plus recommendation to Land Transportation Office for revocation of driver’s license. 

“Malaki ang ibinawas. Last November, we are apprehending close to 200. But now pagpasok ng 2024, pumapalo na lang po ng 54 the max,” said Go.

(There was a considerable decrease. Last November, we were apprehending close to 200. But now, upon entering 2024, it's only hitting 54, maximum.) —Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News