EMERGENCY meetings are not among the “cases of emergency” that would allow law enforcers to pass through the EDSA busway, Malacañang said yesterday amid a controversy over a PNP’s convoy’s use of the bus lane.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, in a briefing, said the busway could be used by ambulances, police and fire trucks during emergencies, but warned the palace will not tolerate abusive behavior.
“Hindi po kasama doon iyong emergency meeting. Kung may emergency meeting, mas maganda po umalis sila nang maaga sa kanilang bahay (Emergency meeting is not included. If there is an emergency meeting, it is better for them to leave their house early),” Castro said.
She added heftier penalties may be considered for violators, especially if they are in government.
“Kung may pang-aabuso, dapat managot (If there is abuse, they will be held accountable),” she said.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil last Wednesday justified the use of the EDSA busway by a convoy of PNP vehicles en route to an emergency meeting, with him supposedly among the passengers.
Marbil, who neither confirmed nor denied he was among the passengers of the convoy caught using the busway on Tuesday night, said the occupants of the vehicles were on their way to Camp Crame to attend an emergency meeting with Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
He also cited a memorandum that allowed the PNP to use the busway during an emergency.
Remulla said he would ask Marbil to explain what happened. He said while it is correct that he asked Marbil to join him in an emergency meeting, he did not give any instruction to violate traffic laws.
