Convoy of alleged lawmaker caught using EDSA busway

The convoy of an alleged lawmaker was caught traveling on the EDSA busway on January 23.

The SUV that was part of the convoy had an ordinary plate number but displayed a seal of the House of Representatives, according to a report on Unang Balita on Tuesday, citing information from the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT).

SAICT personnel issued a traffic violation ticket to the driver.

It was not clear if the lawmaker was riding in one of the vehicles in the convoy.

According to the Department of Transportation, only the following vehicles are allowed to use the EDSA busway:

• LTFRB-authorized buses for the EDSA busway route, including buses with special permits and/or franchises to operate on the EDSA busway route;
• on-duty ambulances, fire trucks, and Philippine National Police vehicles; 
• service vehicles performing their duties for the EDSA Busway Project, including but not limited to construction, security, janitorial, and maintenance services within the EDSA Busway; and
• the following top officials:
  • President of the Philippines
  • Vice President of the Philippines
  • Senate President 
  • Speaker of the House of Representatives 
  • Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 

Motorists caught using the EDSA busway without authorization will be penalized as follows:

• first-time offenders would be charged P5,000;
• second offense would entail a P10,000 fine, a one-month suspension of the driver’s license, and a mandatory road safety seminar;
• third offense would have a P20,000 fine on top of a one-year suspension of the driver’s license;
• the fourth offense would have a P30,000 fine and a recommendation to the Land Transportation Office for the driver’s license to be revoked.

—KG, GMA Integrated News