Revilla, Nebrija in 'word war' over supposed EDSA bus lane violation

The convoy of Senator Bong Revilla was reportedly caught using the EDSA Busway on Wednesday, but the Senator said this was "false information."

According to Allan Gatus' dzBB’s report, Nebrija said Revilla’s vehicle was stopped for using the EDSA northbound busway in Mandaluyong. MMDA officers, however, decided to let the convoy pass because the senator was reportedly inside the vehicle.

Revilla, however, categorically denied that such an incident occurred.

“There is absolutely no truth to the malicious report that I was apprehended using the EDSA carousel busway,” Revilla said in a statement.

“My daily commute is from the south to the Senate and there is no possibility I will be on EDSA in Mandaluyong. When attending to official functions in the north, I take the skyway from and back to the south,” he added.

If there is truth in Nebrija’s report, Revilla said they should have issued a ticket for violating the traffic rules.

Budget Recall?

Revilla now said he wants the approval of MMDA’s 2024 budget recalled because of the incident, according to an interview on Dobol B TV.

"Masakit na bigla lang ma-isyuhan ng ganito na hindi totoo kaya dapat magpaliwanag si Nebrija. Pinapa-recall ko ang budget ng MMDA, bumalik sila sa Senado at magpaliwanag," said Revilla.

(It hurts to be accused of something that is not true. Nebrija should explain. I'm recalling MMDA's budget; they should come back to the Senate and explain.)

"Hindi ko ina-accept [ang paumanhin ni Nebrija]... I want to see that enforcer and Nebrija in the Senate...Unfair yan, kabastusan yan,” he added.

(I do not accept his apology. It's unfair and disrespectful.)

"Kung talagang nagkasala kami ticketan mo kami, ipakulong mo kami pero kung sisiraan mo kami mali na ata yan. Mag resign ka na. Hindi pwede ang sorry, sorry."

(If we had a violation, give us a citation ticket, jail us. But it's not right to malign us. You should resign rather than just say you're sorry.)

Revilla also said that he would summon Nebrija to the Senate.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Nebrija said he only made the decision to let Revilla go based on the information that was given by the traffic enforcer.

Nebrija also said that he was not at the stop when the convoy was apprehended.

“Pinapagawa ko ng spot report ‘yung enforcer na nagsabi na nandon s’ya kasi yun lang ang basis namin to let him go, na nandon sya. Kasi kung wala si Senator Bong, di tinuluyan sana namin pero sinasabi ng mga tao nandyan si Senator Bong, nasa loob. So what can we do? We’re just doing our job,” he said.

(I asked the enforcer to do a spot report. He was the basis for us to let the convoy go. If Senator Bong was not there, then we should have given them citation tickets.)

“Kung ipapatawag kami sa Senate then we will just answer it. Kasi sa totoo lang kung palagay namin na nandoon nga si Senator Bong, it is still my judgment call na ‘bakit mo pinagbigyan?’” he went on.

(If we are called to the Senate, then we will just answer it. If we think Senator Bong was really there, it is still my judgment call on whether the should be excused.)

The MMDA’s budget was submitted for Senate plenary approval last week. —VAL, GMA Integrated News