SAICT exec relieved from post after flagging ambulance on Edsa

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Special Action Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) has been relieved from his post for flagging down an ambulance along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) Busway carrying a patient with a scheduled check-up.

In a memorandum order dated Wednesday, acting Transport Secretary Giovanni Lopez ordered the removal of Rayson dela Torre as the Special Operations Group Head while the investigation is ongoing over a reported incident of his refusal to accept the ambulance’s reason to use the Edsa busway this month.

READ: LTO cracks down on ambulances used as ‘shuttle service’

In an interview, Dela Torre said: “We will not accept the reason that the passenger will have a check-up because it is already scheduled in their hospital. What we allow is the patients in critical condition.”

With this, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) noted that under its existing policy for the Edsa busway, “on-duty ambulances” are among the vehicles authorized to use the Busway.

“On the premise, your statement that only ambulances with patients in critical condition may be allowed to use the Busway contradicts the existing policy which neither specify that only extreme cases of emergencies may be allowed nor prohibit the use of ambulances in non-emergency cases. The same only states that ‘on-duty’ ambulances may be allowed,” the memorandum read.

Lopez then directed Dela Torre to explain within three days the incident and why he should not be sanctioned based on regulations and laws.

“Further, while the investigation is ongoing, you are hereby relieved from your assignment as Special Operations Group Head in EDSA Busway,” the memorandum noted.

READ: DOTr stops 3 ambulances without patients on Edsa bus lane

In a separate statement, the DOTr expressed its sympathy to the patient’s family, adding that the “necessary measures are being taken to ensure that enforcement policies will be implemented with compassion and that the people’s safety will always be the transport agency’s priority and paramount concern.”

Last week, Land Transportation Office chairperson Markus Lacanilao said that the agency will crack down on ambulances being used as shuttle services. This came after the SAICT flagged an ambulance for unauthorized passage through the Edsa Busway Santolan station. /das