Traffic execs show up at Senate probe — finally

Vehicles clog the northbound (left) and southbound lanes of Edsa near Pioneer Street in Mandaluyong City on September 10, 2015, in a seemingly worsening road situation that has caught the attention of senators who have launched an investigation. LYN RILLON / PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

After getting chastised for snubbing last week’s hearing, various heads of various agencies involved in traffic management led by Metro Manila Development Authority Secretary Francis Tolentino and Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, showed up at the resumption of the Senate hearing on Monday .

Aside from Tolentino and Almendras, other resource persons who attended the joint hearing of the committees on economic affairs and on public works were Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Senior Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police- Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and other representatives of various agencies concerned.

Almendras immediately apologized to the committees for being absent during last week’s hearing, saying he had to monitor the first day of the HPG deployment along Edsa. He also clarified that President Benigno Aquino III has not appointed him as traffic czar.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, who was presiding over the hearing, threatened last week to cite in contempt the absent heads of agencies should they fail to appear again in its next hearing. Maila Ager

BACKSTORY: Traffic agency heads absent from Senate hearing; Ejercity irked