A colorum van, whose passengers were not observing physical distancing, was apprehended by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) while it was picking up passengers along EDSA Thursday (September 17).
MMDA EDSA traffic chief Bong Nebrija said the van was carrying 14 persons who were seated next to each other without the prescribed distance.
The passengers claimed they booked the van driven by Randy Catibog via Facebook.
"We noticed that it was jampacked with passengers while it was picking up passengers along EDSA," he said.
"The passengers were not observing physical distancing because the van was so full," Nebrija said.
The passengers were then asked by the MMDA to step out of the vehicle.
Nebrija said Catibog’s driver's license will be suspended for one month for driving a colorum vehicle.
"It was clearly not a shuttle service. Some of the passengers were just about to go to the mall for leisure--'pasyal-pasyal'," he said.
According to Nebrija, the driver asked for some leniency by letting him go being a first-time offender.
Nebrija said Catibog will be fined in the amount of P6, 000 for driving a colorum van, and P1, 000 for not enforcing social distancing among his passengers. The van will be impounded for a month.
He called on the public not to patronize colorum vehicles.
"Always see to it that the vehicle you are riding is imposing physical distancing," the MMDA official reminded the public.
"COVID-19 is still here. Let's always practice the prescribed health protocols."