Senator Raffy Tulfo confirmed on Wednesday, Nov. 6, that a senator's relative was the passenger of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) bearing plate number “7” that was caught using the EDSA busway and tried to run over a Department of Transportation (DOTr) enforcer.
In a press conference, Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services urged the passenger to surrender since the issue has placed 23 senators under the public's suspicion.
Protocol plates marked “7” are reserved for senators and are valid only during an official's incumbency.
"Kung ako doon sa pasahero huwag mo nang pahirapan pa ang maraming tao, aminin mo na, sabihin mo na, nagakamali ka. Isurrender mo yung driver mo and mag-apologize (If you're the passenger, don't make things harder for many people, admit it, say it, you made a mistake. Surrender your driver and apologize)," he said.
According to him, the passenger arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 from Narita on Nov. 3.
Tulfo also bared that the owner of the vehicle is Orient Pacific Corporation.
He was then asked if he had the same information that William and Kenneth Gatchalian are listed as board members of the company to which he replied: "Base sa intel ko, mukhang tumutugma (Based on my intel, it seems to be the same)."
William is the father of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian while Kenneth is his brother.
On the other hand, Tulfo is keen on filing a resolution seeking to investigate the matter focused on the responsibility of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) which he called "uncooperative" for refusing to provide them a copy CCTV footage of the area.
"At nakakapagtaka palaging may nakakatakas dyan sa buslane na yan, anong ginagawa nitong mga motorcycle unit ng MMDA? Palagay ko ginagamit to pang-escort sa mga vip na dapat ginagamit yan sa trabaho, panghabol, panghuli ng mga traffic violators (It's puzzling how there are always those who manage to evade the bus lanes, what are the motorcycle units of MMDA doing about it? I believe it's being used to escort VIPs, which should be utilized for work such as chasing, and apprehending traffic violators)," he said.
"Primarily dito para malaman bakit hindi ginagawa ng mmda ang kanilang trabaho dahil kung napapansin niyo ilang beses ng may nakatakas dyan sa buslane (Mainly to find out why the MMDA is not doing its job, because if you notice, there have been several instances where vehicles have escaped and driven on the bus lane)," he added.
Meanwhile, for his part, MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said in a chance interview that monitoring the bus lanes is no longer their responsibility and is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transporation (DOTr), Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO).