Remulla: No instructions for PNP to violate EDSA busway traffic rules for 'emergency meeting'
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified that he did not give the Philippine National Police (PNP) instructions to violate traffic rules after a police convoy was flagged for using the EDSA busway.
PNP chief Rommel Francisco Marbil said a convoy of senior police officials used the bus lane for an emergency meeting at Camp Crame on Feb. 25 evening.
A video shared by the Department of Transportation - Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) to the media showed traffic personnel conversing with a police officer, who is part of the convoy, asking them to pass through as Marbil is going to an emergency meeting at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
According to SAICT’s report, the convoy consisted of two sports utility vehicles and Highway Patrol Group (HPG) motorcycles using the northbound EDSA busway in the Ortigas area, per the Philippines News Agency (PNA).
Marbil addressed the issue on Feb. 26, reiterating that they had an emergency last night.
"Kahapon kasi there was an emergency and there was an issue that we have to resolve,” the PNP chief said in an interview with Super Radyo DZBB.
"Kailangan po 'yung mga presensiya ng pulis namin na higher-ups to attend a closed-door meeting of what will happen doon sa operation last night,” he continued.
He added that he told the officers to give courtesy to the personnel, and said that they can appeal in the arbitration that they used the busway for emergency.
“There’s an emergency, daan lang kayo, pa-ticket kayo, kasi talagang they’re just doing their jobs,” he said.
However, Marbil refused to confirm if he was inside the flagged vehicle due to privacy concerns.
“Ang masasabi ko wala na po kaming ano because ang plate number po nilabas,” he said. “‘Pagka nahuli ang mga tao natin, you also have to protect the identity of the people,” Marbil added.
DILG to investigate whether there was abuse of authority
For his part, Remulla said in a press briefing that he asked Marbil to appear for a meeting about the kidnapped 14-year-old Chinese student who was found along Macapagal Ave. in Parañaque.
However, he could not confirm whether the PNP chief was onboard the flagged-down vehicle.
“[Marbil] was aware of the operations. I asked him to appear. Kung ano man ang methodology niya papunta doon, let me make it clear, I did not give instructions to violate any traffic laws to get there,” he said. “But he was aware of the emergency.”
"Kahit ako 'di ako gumagamit ng bus lane. We have a firm agreement with the [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority] that there is a zero-tolerance policy," Remulla added.
Asked about the possible sanctions for police officers using the busway, the Interior Secretary said they can refer to the regular policy, or investigate whether it is an abuse of authority.
Meanwhile, PNP public information chief Col. Randulf Tuaño said in a press conference at Camp Crame that they plan to coordinate with the DOTr and the MMDA to discuss exemptions over the EDSA busway.
“Since 24 hours ang trabaho ng pulis at kung ito ay emergency, baka sakali mapagbigyang gumamit ng bus lane,” Tuaño said, per PNA.
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.
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.
