EDSA busway violators with ‘7’ and ‘8’ protocol plates flee after being caught

Authorities caught cars with ‘7’ and ‘8’ protocol license plates using the EDSA busway on Thursday morning  but the violators fled after they were caught.

According to a 24 Oras report by Ivan Mayrina, the driver of a Sports Utility Vehicle apprehended in the Mandaluyong City portion of the busway handed his driver's license to a traffic enforcer before quickly driving off.

The Department of Transportation now holds the license and is conducting the legitimacy of the plate, which was issued to an unidentified Philippine Senator.

Another SUV with the plate number ‘8’, typically issued to members of the House of the Representatives, also made a similar escape after being caught near EDSA Tramo in Pasay City.

Authorities were unable to record the conduction sticker of the offending vehicle.

“Meron tayong CCTV camera mako-confirm natin yung plaka and also conduction sticker dahil kailangan natin alamin kung sino nagmamay-ari o driver nun para bigyan sila ng tamang sanction,” said DOTR Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Jesus Ferdinand Ortega said.

(We have a CCTV camera to confirm the plate and the conduction sticker. We need to know who owns the car or who the driver is so we can mete the proper sanctions.)

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a reminder to government officials to follow traffic laws and ordered to limit the issuance of protocol license plates to avoid further abuses.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Assistant General Manager for Operations Assistant Secretary David Vargas said that busway apprehensions have been increasing recently.

These also include motorists using prohibited blinkers and sirens or wang-wangs.

The Philippine National Police and the DOTr assured the public that the law will be strictly enforced regardless of the identity of the violators.

“Wala po tayong sisinuhin sa pag-implement at pag-enforce po ng PD 96 regardless kung ano po ang estado nila sa buhay,” said PNP Spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo.

(We won’t exempt anyone in our implementation and enforcement of the PD 96 regardless of their status in society.)

“This is to show seriousness. This is to show na ang gobyerno ay susunod at tayo’y dapat maging magandang modelo sa ating mamamayan,” added DOTr Undersecretary Ortega.

(This is to show seriousness. This is to show that we in government will follow the rules and that we should be good examples to our citizens.)—Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News