2 lawmakers' cars caught speeding on 'killer highway'

Manila, Philippines - Two lawmakers were reportedly caught on camera violating the speed limit imposed on Commonwealth Avenue, dubbed the “killer highway” due to numerous deadly road accidents occurring along the 12.4-kilometer thoroughfare in Quezon City.

ABS-CBN reported that footage from closed-circuit television cameras installed at various points along the avenue showed that two vehicles with number “8” license plates exceeded the 60-kilometer per hour speed limit. The report said the vehicles were seen cutting off other motorists along the northbound lane, presumably on the way to the Batasang Pambansa complex.

One of the vehicles is allegedly owned by Diwa party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay but this could not be confirmed as of press time. It was not clear when the alleged traffic violations occurred.

2 sideswiped in car chase

Meanwhile, two persons were hurt after a passenger jeepney sideswiped a city hall employee and its driver tried to flee from a Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcer along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City’s “killer highway,” yesterday morning.

Roberto Bulay-ug Jr., 35, a member of the city hall’s sidewalk operations task force, was taking inspection photographs near Commonwealth Elementary School when the jeepney (NXS-265), driven by Frederick Salio, hit him on the hip at around 8:45 a.m.

MMDA traffic enforcer Edwin Lamban, 31, saw what happened and tried to apprehend Salio, who sped away. Lamban chased Salio’s jeepney, but Salio also sideswiped him and caused him to fall from his motorcycle, according to Quezon City Police District traffic enforcer Crisanto Gragasin.

The passenger jeepney was later found abandoned in Fairview. Salio was later arrested.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said Salio will be charged with evading arrest and reckless imprudence resulting in physical injury. Salio’s jeepney was also impounded, he said.

“No amount of enforcement and innovation will help if the drivers themselves will ignore and disobey traffic rules and disregard traffic enforcers. Road discipline is a must for everybody,” he added. – Paolo Romero, Michael Punongbayan, Mike Frialde