Military convoy, embassy car drivers breach busway

MANILA, Philippines — A convoy of private vehicles from the military and a car from the Chinese embassy were pulled over for illegally using the EDSA busway on Friday afternoon. According to radio reports, enforcers from the Department of Transportation’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) stopped a convoy composed of a black Toyota Hiace van, a black Ford Ranger pickup with blinkers and two motorcycles during an operation at the EDSA Bus Carousel’s Ortigas station.

Enforcers and reporters covering the operation attempted to talk to the drivers of the two cars. The driver of the van rolled down his window, but the entire convoy later drove off without receiving a traffic citation ticket.

Asked why they were not blocked, an enforcer said the drivers claimed the convoy was from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and that they “coordinated with the DOTr.”

SAICT enforcers also blocked a Toyota Land Cruiser whose driver claimed that the sport utility vehicle belonged to the “ambassador of China,” according to radio reports.

The driver left without getting a traffic citation ticket.

The driver of a car reportedly from the Philippine Air Force received a citation ticket after being pulled over for driving along the exclusive bus lane.

In a statement yesterday, the SAICT declared “the vehicle allegedly from the Chinese embassy and another convoy allegedly from the AFP are considered violators of the busway.”

“The registered owners of these vehicles will be issued show cause orders by the Land Transportation Office,” the agency added.

The SAICT did not specify the vehicles in its statement. It maintained “the rules governing the EDSA busway remain unchanged.”

EDSA’s innermost lanes are designated for the exclusive use of city buses, ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles  as well as convoys of the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker and Chief Justice.

Violators will be fined P5,000 to P30,000, depending on the frequency of the offense, and might have their driver’s license cancelled.