This file photo shows the segregated portion of theEdsa Bus Carousel lane or Edsa busway. PDI/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — An alleged relative of a ranking police official was caught illegally using the Edsa Bus Carousel lane or Edsa busway and speeding while at it.
The Department of Transportation-Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr – SAICT) operatives stopped the woman at the Guadalupe, Makati City, section of the special bus lane on Thursday evening. They said she was driving too fast from Ortigas in Pasig City.
During questioning, the woman allegedly refused to present her driver’s license and supposedly repeatedly said she was from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
READ: Chiz opens up on Edsa bus lane breach, says sorry
The woman, whom the DOTr-SAICT did not name in its press release Saturday, also purportedly said she was a relative of Major General Mario Reyes, the director of the Philippine National Police Directorate for Logistics.
“Pamangkin ako ni Major General Mario Reyes, I’m Fil-Am. I’m taking care of Balikatan natin, tama na ‘yan,” she added.
(I am the niece of Major General Mario Reyes, I am a Filipino-American, I’m taking care of our Balikatan exercises. That’s enough.)
“I’m a military from the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” the woman added.
Show cause order urged vs violator of Edsa busway
The DOTr-SAICT said the woman sped away after that.
Now, the DOTr-SAICT is asking the Land Transportation Office to issue a show cause order against the woman.
READ: MMDA on Edsa busway memo: It must be ‘not allowed,’ instead of ‘allowed’
The AFP, meanwhile, said in a message to INQUIRER.net that their instution will not condone the woman’s behavior and that the woman should be held accountable for her violations.
“The AFP as a professional organization does not condone nor tolerate any behavior that undermines the integrity of our institution or violates the law. We take allegations of misconduct and misrepresentation seriously within our ranks,” AFP spokesperson Francel Margareth Padilla said.
“The DOTr-SAICT has not yet coordinated with the proper AFP office regarding the issue and the identity of the violator. Whether or not she is a member of the military, she should be accountable for the violations she committed,” she added.