Woman on EDSA busway: I'm the niece of major general... tama na 'yan

A woman who was apprehended for driving on the EDSA busway told off the traffic enforcer saying that she was a general's niece, a member of the military, and involved in the Balikatan exercises.

According to Oscar Oida's report on "24 Oras," the driver was flagged down on Thursday night at the Guadalupe carousel station. 

“Pamangkin ako ni major general... so wag mo akong a-anuhin. I'm military. I'm Filipino-American. I’m taking care of Balikatan, tama na ‘yan” the motorist said. 

(I'm the niece of major general... so don't apprehend me. I'm part of the military. I'm Filipino-American, I'm taking care of Balikatan. Enough of that.)

The enforcer stressed that she was not allowed to use the busway. 

“At the moment, wala pa tayong tukoy, wala pa tayong impormasyon pero soon po mache-check po ‘yan ng ating mga kasamahan sa LTO,” DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Insfrastructure Jesus Ferdinand Ortega. 

(At the moment, we don't have anything specific; we don't have any information yet, but our colleagues at the LTO will check that soon.)

On Thursday morning, traffic authorities apprehended vehicles with "7" and "8" protocol license plates for using the EDSA busway. 

However, the violators, including the car with the "7" protocol plate, fled after they were caught.

On Friday, Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero apologized to the public after his vehicle bearing a protocol plate for senators was among those apprehended. 

However, he clarified that he does not use the protocol license plate and the vehicle was being used by the "driver of a family member" when it was caught.

"In the morning of 11 April 2024, a vehicle bearing protocol license plates issued to me was apprehended by the MMDA for improperly using the bus lane on Edsa. The use of the protocol plate was unauthorized, as the driver of a family member was driving the vehicle," Escudero said in a statement.

"I do not personally use the protocol license plates issued to me, and forthwith the protocol plates involved in the incident will be surrendered to the [Land Transportation Office]," he added.

Escudero did not provide further details as to whether he was inside the car when it was apprehended. —Sherylin Untalan/NB, GMA Integrated News