PNP bus driver, supervisor sacked for EDSA Busway crash
A police officer driving the Philippine National Police "Libreng Sakay" bus and his immediate supervisor were sacked on Monday, Apr. 20 over an EDSA Busway crash.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Brig. Gen. Noel Vallo, director of the PNP Logistics Support Service, relieved the officers from their posts pending investigation.
"Napaka-swift ang reaction natin sa mga ganyan dahil ang ating Chief PNP, mahigpit ang ipinaguutos na zero tolerance tayo," he told members of the media.
National Police Commission Commissioner Rafael Calinisan, meanwhile, said a motu propio investigation is underway for the driver whom he identified as Master Sgt. Jenifer Bredico, assigned to the PNP minibus offering "Libreng Sakay" to commuters amid a transport strike.
He added that the erring police officer could have offered a basic apology instead of escalating it further by allegedly asking for the bus driver's license and demanding payment for damages.
Calinisan said the NAPOLCOM will also investigate the Quezon City Police District Traffic Enforcement Unit for an alleged misleading report claiming an “amicable settlement” has been made between Bredico and the EDSA bus driver.
In the same briefing, Bredico apologized over the incident. "Humihingi po ako ng taos-pusong pasensya sa nagawa kong kamalian lalong-lalo na sa driver ng bus. Inaamin kong mali ang pagka-swerving ng sasakyan.”
"Tungkol naman po sa nag-video, hiyang-hiya na po ang aking pamilya pati mga classmate ko kasi puro negative lahat ‘yong naging feedback bagkus sa ating pagtatrabaho, pagsasakripisyo, para lang maihatid ‘yong mga pasahero natin,” he added.
The Land Transportation office has issued a show cause order to the police officer and has suspended his driver's license for 90 days.
The incident happened on Apr. 17, near EDSA Bus Carousel's Main Avenue station around 5 p.m. The PNP minibus swerved multiple lanes to the left to access the EDSA Busway before colliding with an EDSA Carousel bus.
In a viral video, the PNP mini bus was seen blocking the EDSA busway for a few minutes as Bredico confronted the EDSA Carousel bus driver. Passengers could be heard complaining for the inconvenience caused by the tussle.
