Passenger of SUV with ‘7’ protocol plate kin of senator — Raffy Tulfo

The passenger of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) with the “fake” protocol plate number 7 that used EDSA busway is a family of a senator, according to Senator Raffy Tulfo.

“Related ito sa isang senador pero hindi 'yung senador 'yung sakay ng SUV na 'yan at the time. Kamag-anak ng isang senador,” Tulfo said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

(The passenger is the senator’s kin but that senator was not inside the SUV during the incident.)

According to Tulfo, the passenger was going to a resort in Quezon City after landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. He added the security personnel of the passenger is a former member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The SUV was caught using the EDSA busway at Guadalupe Station's northbound lane on Sunday. 

A video posted by the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) showed that the SUV escaped apprehension and "attempted to run over" Secretariat Sarah Barnachea of DOTr-SAICT.

Tulfo said the owner of the vehicle is a company named Orient Pacific Corporation but refused to give further details.

The Land Transportation Office earlier said the number “7” protocol plate was fake but Tulfo said further investigation is needed.

The senator also urged the SUV owner to surrender and faced possible sanctions.

Earlier today, LTO said the SUV driver has surrendered to authorities. 

Also on Wednesday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairperson Romando Artes Jr. said the agency cannot identify the owner of the SUV since it does not have a conduction sticker.

“Akin po agad pina-review 'yung CCTV at sinabi ko sa aming tauhan na makipag- coordinate sa LTO. Ang problema walang conduction sticker 'yung sasakyan tapos “7” lang 'yung plate both sa harap at sa likod,” Artes told the media.

(I ordered a review of the CCTV footage and told my staff to coordinate with the LTO. The problem is the SUV does not have a conduction sticker and its plate number is only number “7” both at the front and back.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News