MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday clarified that it did not withhold the copy of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showing the SUV with a “7” protocol plate using the Edsa busway.
“The MMDA did not withhold or try to hide something from the incident. In fact, we’ve granted the Department of Transportation – Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) request for the said CCTV footage on the same day and had also provided the same for the DOTr, Land Transportation Office, and the office of Senator Raffy Tulfo, thru his staff Atty. Angel Marasigan, on the next day, November 4. All of the requests were provided in minutes’ time,” said MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes, as quoted in a statement.
READ: SUV owner of viral ‘7’ plate number revealed; proprietor is not a senator
Artes also reiterated that no MMDA personnel have been deployed on the bus lane since June 30, as they were reassigned to manage the ongoing rehabilitation of flyovers and bridges along Edsa.
The management of the Edsa busway was transferred to the DOTr-SAICT, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Philippine Coast Guard.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that the owner of the vehicle with protocol plate number 7, which is only used by senators, was not a politician but a company called Orient Pacific Corporation.
The driver in the now-viral video was also identified as Angelito Edpan, 52, who has been a company driver of Orient Pacific Corporation for almost two years.
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In the video, the SUV can be seen moving in reverse as it tried to get out of the Edsa lane exclusively allotted for passenger buses, ambulances, and specific government vehicles.
The driver allegedly almost ran over a traffic enforcer who had flagged the vehicle down for using the bus lane on the northbound side of Edsa in Makati City on Sunday.