Erap to bus ban critics: Sue me

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada stood pat yesterday on the city’s partial bus ban and told its critics to just file charges in court.

Estrada, 76, reiterated that Resolution No. 48, which banned buses without terminals in the city, is legal.

“They should go to court, and if it is really illegal, I’ll take the blame. They say I banned all the buses. I didn’t. What I banned were the colorum buses, but those with franchises can enter the city, but should follow traffic regulations… If they do not have a terminal, they cannot park along the roads,” he told radio station dzBB.

Resolution No. 48, enforced starting last Tuesday, regulates the entrance of city and provincial buses that do not have private terminals in Manila. This means, according to Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, that buses passing through Manila to pick up and drop off passengers are no longer allowed to use their roads.

“If they don’t have terminals, where will they pick up and let off passengers? Along the roads,” he said.

Private terminals can be owned or rented. Pandacan, Florida, and Fariñas bus lines have their own terminals, while other bus firms rent space at the Park N Ride in Lawton or the Trimodal terminal near the Manila Post Office.

Commuters’ group eyes TRO

Meanwhile, National Center for Commuter Safety and Protection president Elvira Medina said she and other members of the NCCSP board are considering filing a petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) before the courts to stop the implementation of the bus ban.

Medina, who claims to be a staunch supporter of Estrada, lashed out at the Manila mayor for allegedly being blind to the rights of commuters and for the lack of transparency and consultation on the bus ban.

Medina said forcing commuters to alight from buses and ride jeepneys when passing through Manila would not only be inconvenient but also unsafe as commuters would be easy targets for criminals.

“Passengers of jeepney drivers are easy prey for criminals. I pity the commuters,” she said.