Driver of PNP bus, supervisor relieved over Edsa busway crash
MANILA, Philippines — The driver of the Philippine National Police (PNP) coaster bus that crashed into an Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) carousel bus in Quezon City has been relieved from his post, along with his immediate supervisor.
The Philippine National Police gave this information on Monday.
The two officers were relieved from their posts last Friday while an administrative investigation into the incident is ongoing, PNP Logistics Support Service (LSS) Director Brig. Gen. Noel Vallo bared in a press briefing in Camp Crame.
“There are no sacred cows here. If you’re wrong, I’m sorry. This is just a job. Explain yourself. If there’s negligence on your part, sorry, you have to explain,” he maintained.
In a press briefing earlier on Monday, National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Rafael Calinisan identified the police bus driver as Chief Master Sgt. Jenifer Bredico.
Vallo did not name Bredico’s immediate supervisor.
READ: Driver of PNP Libreng Sakay bus apologizes over Edsa busway crash
At the Napolcom briefing, Edsa carousel bus driver Jessie Soledad alleged Bredico had demanded that he surrender his driver’s license, while passenger Marianne Ramos claimed no officers had guided the passengers after the incident.
“If our police driver had just talked with the bus driver and said, ‘Partner, we’ve had an accident. We couldn’t avoid it. I’m sorry. Let me just call the proper policeman,’ which is the Traffic Sector of the QCPD to investigate the traffic accident,” Vallo lamented.
“It could’ve been over already. But there’s an instinct that comes with our uniform. There’s authority. Your instinct is to ask for the driver’s license. That’s the problem,” he specified.
The crash occurred near the Main Avenue carousel bus station in Cubao late Friday afternoon, the last day of the transport group Manibela’s strike and the PNP’s Libreng Sakay (free rides) program in response to the protest-action.
Defending himself at the briefing, Bedrico said he only entered the Edsa busway to get passengers for the Libreng Sakay program.
However, Vallo detailed that Bedrico’s assignment was along Commonwealth Avenue. /apl /atm
