SAICT official relieved from duty for flagging ambulance using EDSA busway; patient inside died later that day
The special operations group head of the Special Action Intelligence Committee for Transportation has been relieved of his post after the official flagged an ambulance that was using the EDSA busway to transport a stage 4 cancer patient to her medical check-up at a hospital.
According to reports, the SAICT official was carrying out the group's regular operations last Monday against unauthorized vehicles on the EDSA busway. The ambulance was at the EDSA Busway - Santolan Station when the official stopped it as it was using the busway to transport a patient to a medical check-up, not because of an emergency.
As the patient's daughter relayed to Frontline Pilipinas, it took more than 30 minutes for the SAICT personnel to send them back on their way.
In a memo, Department of Transportation acting secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez quoted the official saying in an interview with a news outlet, "Hindi po natin tatanggapin na rason 'yung magpapacheck-up 'yung pasahero sapagkat eto naman po ay naka-schedule na sa kani-kanilang ospital na pupuntahan. Ang papayagan na lang po natin ay iyong mga nag-aagaw-buhay na mga pasyente."
However, in the same memo dated Feb. 18, Lopez stated under the DOTr's existing policy, the EDSA Busway is available for use of, among other authorized vehicles, all on-duty ambulances.
"On this premise, your statement that only ambulances with patients in critical condition may be allowed to use the Busway contradicts the existing policy," wrote Lopez, adding that the policy neither specifies that only extreme cases of emergencies may be allowed nor prohibits the use of ambulances in non-emergency cases.
The official was then ordered to explain within three days why he should not undergo a disciplinary action. He was also relieved from his assignment as Special Operations Group Head in EDSA Busway while the investigation is carried out.
Additionally, the acting secretary instructed the DOTr SAICT to reorient its personnel assigned in EDSA Busway on the department's policies.
A grieving daughter
The patient being transported by the ambulance from Bulacan to a hospital in Pasig passed away later that day, relayed her daughter, Riza, in a News 5 interview.
"Ang inalala ko agad 'yung mother ko kasi... stage 4 na 'yung cancer niya, eh," Riza said.
The ambulance driver had to alight from the vehicle to explain the situation to the SAICT official. According to the daughter, who lives in Australia, they had to wait more than half an hour before they could leave.
Riza understood that there had to be such road rules, the daughter said, but these have to take into account extraordinary situations.
Although they were eventually allowed to go, Riza said the extreme stress her mother experienced from the incident may have led to her mother's death later that day, after arriving home.
"Nu'ng inuwi namin siya, wala na, sir. Binuhat namin siya sa ano, hindi na siya makagalaw. Wala na... Sobrang grabe na 'yung stress niya," Riza said.
"'Yung binigay na stress sa nanay ko bago siya mawala, 'yun ang hindi mababawi kahit na sibakin pa lahat ng kung sino man," she added.
The ambulance driver also spoke up on social media regarding the incident. "Wala kayong konsiderasyon... parang 'di kayo tao... mas priority nyo 'yung bus kesa pasyente... stage 4 cancer..." he wrote in a post.
According to News5, it was his viral post that reached DOTr, leading to the issuance of the memo.
