Quezon City congressman Ralph Tulfo caught using exclusive EDSA bus lane; apologizes, says he paid fine
Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Tulfo, the son of Sen. Raffy Tulfo, was caught using the exclusive EDSA bus lane, prompting him to issue a public apology.
Sen. Raffy confirmed the incident on Jan. 28, Tuesday, saying it happened on Monday night. According to him, it was the decision of his son's driver to enter the lane.
“Ang pagkakaalam ko ata nagmamadali siya," he said. "'Yung driver niya ata ang pumasok doon."
Sen. Raffy said he sees no problem as his son didn't escape or act violently.
“'Pag hindi tumakas, wala akong nakikitang problema. 'Pag hindi siya nang-abuso, hindi nagmura, wala akong nakikitang problema," he told reporters.
The senator said he already reprimanded Rep. Ralph.
“Pinagalitan ko siya, pinagsabihan ko, pinagalitan ko," he said. "Nag-sorry siya sa akin ang sabi ko mag-apologize ka sa lahat and that’s it."
Late Jan. 28, Rep. Ralph apologized to Filipinos over the incident.
"Lubos po akong humihingi ng paumainhin sa publiko, lalo na sa mga naapektuhan at naabala ng insidente kamakailan kaugnay sa pagdaan ng aking sasakyan sa EDSA bus lane," he said in a Facebook post.
He noted that they didn't mention or use the names of powerful politicians for him to avoid penalties.
"Sa halip, tinanggap po namin ang tiket at ang aming pagkakamali nang walang pag-aalinlangan," he said.
Sen. Ralph added that he has paid the necessary fines and will undergo a required seminar on the country's traffic laws.
"Nangangako po akong gagawin ko ang lahat ng hakbang upang maiwasan ang ganitong uri ng pagkakamali sa hinaharap," he continued.
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.
