MANILA, Philippines — A police officer who was the authorized driver of a Philippine National Police (PNP) van that illegally traveled along the EDSA busway on Wednesday has been relieved from his post.
The police officer, whom PNP chief information officer Col. Jean Fajardo did not identify, is also facing an administrative case for using the bus lane.
“He will face an administrative case for failure to follow a specific instruction,” Fajardo said in a news briefing.
Fajardo said the police officer is assigned with the liaison office of the Northern Mindanao police based in Camp Crame.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has issued a show-cause order against the police officer for using the busway along the northbound lane of EDSA on Wednesday afternoon.
The DOTr said the van’s driver disregarded two operatives of the special operations unit and sped off.
Fajardo said an investigation is underway to determine if the van’s authorized driver was the same person who drove the vehicle along the bus lane.
She reminded police officers they are only authorized to use the bus lane in the actual performance of their duties and during emergencies.
Meanwhile, the DOTr’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) reported that 1,525 motorists were penalized for the unauthorized use of the EDSA busway from Jan. 1 to May 9.
The SAICT said 595 of the apprehended motorists drove motorcycles.
The committee said it fined the drivers of 500 private and public vehicles; 20 government vehicles, including ambulances, and 410 unauthorized buses and trucks.
Included among those apprehended was a former traffic enforcer who claimed to be an employee of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to justify his use of the exclusive lane on May 7.
In a statement, the MMDA said Henry Closa was no longer connected to the agency as an employee of its Traffic Discipline Office since March 31, 2023.
The fine for those who violate the busway policy ranges from P5,000 to P30,000.