Driver of viral EDSA bus lane SUV with '7' plate apologizes for traffic violation: 'Ako po ay nagkasala'

'Guest car'

Guinomla explained that the company car is "primarily used" as a "guest car" to escort visitors to their investment sites. He, however, didn't disclose the names of their purported guests.

He was also asked whether their guests at the time were public officials, but chose not to answer directly. Instead, he said they cater to foreign and local investors. "There's an ongoing investigation, and we respect their privacy," he answered.

Edpan, meanwhile, was asked who he was driving for during the incident. "Pinahatid lang po sa 'kin 'yung bisita. Hindi ko po alam... kung sino. 'Pag pinipick up namin, 'di na kami nagtatanong kung sino sila," he answered.

As media members were asking him questions, Edpan kept turning to his right as somebody off-screen appeared to whisper something.

Asked if somebody instructed him to go to the busway, he said none and that he was just in a hurry. "Sinubukan ko kasi akala ko Linggo, walang (tao)," he said.

The plate number had long been installed on the vehicle, according to Edpan, but said he had no idea since when.

He also claimed to have a stomachache at the time, sharing they came from a restaurant located in Parañaque. They passed through the Skyway afterward to go to a mall in Mandaluyong.

"Basta ang instruction sa 'kin, doon ko sila ibaba," he said of the guests, whom he claimed to be two but didn't name them amid privacy concerns.

Edpan said the one in the passenger seat, whose face was shown in the viral video, was his fellow company driver who's supposedly his substitute. He also didn't name the person.

According to him, he's been driving for Orient Pacific for about two years now. When a reporter asked whether he's unaware of the plate number of the car he's been driving, a voice can be heard cutting off the reporter to give way to the next question.

In response to another question, Edpan said he only drives whatever vehicle the company assigns to him.

Traffic violation ticket issued

LTO Law Enforcement Director Francis Almora issued a traffic violation ticket to Edpan on-camera and asked for his driver's license.

Almora presented to the media Edpan's license, noting it's valid until 2032, and the OR/CR (official receipt and certificate of registration) of the vehicle.

Almora didn't disclose the vehicle's original plate number, and said there's no violation with its registration "at this point."

In entering the bus lane, Edpan would be penalized for "disregarding traffic signs," incurring a P1,000 fine. His backing up when apprehended, meanwhile, is deemed reckless driving, incurring a P2,000 fine. The usage of plate number 7 is a violation of Executive Order No. 56 series of 2024, which regulates the issuance of low-numbered protocol license plates to government officials, incurring a P5,000 fine. His failure to attach his regular plate also incurred a P1,000 fine. Overall, Edpan will be fined P9,000 over the incident.

Mendoza said the fines were based on the admissions, and the LTO would still issue a show cause order and probe into the incident. "If we found out that there were other violations," he said, "baka madagdagan pa depende sa sagot nila."

Mendoza noted they're validating the ownership of the vehicle, which is registered under the company.

The passengers won't be penalized.

Mendoza also reiterated that plate number 7 wasn't theirs based on its design. The LTO previously said the plate number was fake.

A reporter turned to Guinomla again and asked why they had such a plate, but he chose not to answer and simply cited the ongoing investigation.

'Disturbing incident'

In a Facebook post on Nov. 3, the DOTr-SAICT shared a video of a "disturbing incident" at 6:58 p.m. at Guadalupe Station's northbound lane.

In the first-person video, the DOTr-SAICT enforcer asks the driver to stop and back up. "While assisting buses to move forward, Secretariat Sarah Barnachea of the DOTr-SAICT noticed the white SUV illegally passing through the bus lane," the agency said in the caption. "Secretariat Barnachea approached the vehicle to apprehend and verify the driver's identity. However, the driver, instead of cooperating, attempted to run over Secretariat Barnachea and flee the scene."

Another traffic enforcer, identified as Secretariat Reyno, came to assist Barnachea.

"Despite their efforts to approach the driver politely and perform their duties," the DOTr-SAICT said, "the driver continued to resist and eventually reversed the vehicle until reaching the open barrier, where they managed to escape."

A passenger in the back seat also allegedly raised their middle finger at the officers, the agency added.

In the latter half of the video, the back seat window partially opens, briefly revealing a man using his phone, seemingly documenting the officer apprehending them. In the passenger seat, another man can be seen as he guides the driver to avoid hitting anything. He ignores Barnacheo, who asks for the driver's license.

The LTO said the car model was a Cadillac Escalade, and no senator had any registered Cadillac Escalade.

LTO Executive Director Greg Pua told GMA News that there are only less than 30 individuals who own the model.

"But we're still looking baka meron tayong hindi nai-type, na ma-search so we're still looking po kung 'yun na po talaga 'yung numero," Pua said, adding that they cannot check the unregistered owners.

The EDSA busway is reserved for public utility buses, emergency vehicles like ambulances and firetrucks, and marked government vehicles responding to emergencies.

In November 2023, the DoTr noted that the country's top officials—the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court—may use the lane “to provide assistance in the performance of their duties.” The officials have to inform the DOTr ahead of time, and once approved, the plate number will be given to traffic enforcers.

At the time, DOTr Command and Control Operations Center Chief Charlie Del Rosario told CNN Philippines' The Source that they pertain to those “performing duties and responsibilities within the busway” like construction, security, janitorial, and maintenance services. But he said there are special cases, like when the Department of Social Welfare and Development needed to respond to a disaster.

Authorities have apprehended unauthorized vehicles passing through the bus lane.

Unauthorized usage of the EDSA bus lane incurs a P5,000 fine on the first offense; a P10,000 fine, one-month suspension of driver’s license, and a road safety seminar on the second offense; a P20,000 fine and one-year suspension of driver’s license on the third offense; and P30,000 fine and cancellation of driver’s license on the fourth offense.