THE bus carousel lane on Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA), which is reserved for emergency vehicles including ambulances with patients, fire trucks and police cars, with a few exemptions such as the very VIPs, has become the poster venue of the Philippines’ culture of road entitlement.
The Department of Transportation and the Metro Manila Development Authority initiated the exclusive bus lane to ease the flow of traffic for actual emergencies. This was done to decongest this main thoroughfare so that one could drive from Cubao to Ayala Ave. in 10 minutes. Vehicular traffic along EDSA has not improved since the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Although most drivers know the rule about the use of the for-buses-only lane, there have been instances of violations, mostly by drivers of elected officials and some rich owners of expensive sports cars, who think they own the road.
‘… the LTO must be reminded that attaching plates to unauthorized vehicles is a crime, whether this is done by carnappers or senators, and prosecution should not play favorites.’
Veteran Ilocos Sur politician Luis Chavit Singson was caught using the bus lane, and was fined accordingly, even apologizing for his infraction and donating a sum of money to the MMDA to appease and reward its traffic personnel.
Several weeks followed without incident, until last November 3 when a speeding SUV, a Cadillac Escalade with No. 7 license plates issued only to senators, was apprehended while using the bus lane. The driver tried to bump the traffic enforcer who was making the apprehension, but later backed off. Prompt action by the authorities resulted in the driver’s arrest, suspension of his driver’s license, and imposition of fines.
While the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said its records showed that it did not issue a No. 7 car plate to any Cadillac Esplanade, Sen. Raffy Tulfo said in a press conference that the car was registered to Orient Pacific Corp., the president of which is Kenneth Gatchalian, a brother of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
The Cadillac’s driver admitted that he picked up a foreigner-guest of the company from the airport and brought him to a resort casino in Quezon City without really knowing who his passenger was. Tulfo is correct in urging his fellow senators to step up and clarify this issue once and for all, because all the members of the Senate are now under a cloud as to who could have violated the bus lane rule again. Remember that Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. was thought to have committed this violation until he cleared his name somewhat. Senate President Francis Escudero once apologized for a similar infraction, when he allowed a relative to use his car.
The use of low-numbered car plates should be regulated, so that only one set of plates should be issued to the 24 senators and 316 members of the House of Representatives, even if they own a fleet of vehicles.
Also, the LTO must be reminded that attaching plates to unauthorized vehicles is a crime, whether this is done by carnappers or senators, and prosecution should not play favorites.
