"If you have an emergency meeting, better leave early."
This was the advice of Malacañang to government officials who plan on using the EDSA Busway in order to get to their destinations earlier.
Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Thursday, Feb. 27, that an emergency meeting is not included in the emergency situations that would warrant a government-owned vehicle to pass through the EDSA Busway.
"Kapag po kasi sinabi natin na miyembro ng PNP, ambulansya, fire truck – hindi po kasama doon iyong emergency meeting (If we say member of the PNP, ambulance, fire truch—emergency meeting is not included)," Castro said when asked whether emergency meeting can be used as an excuse to use the busway.
"Kung may emergency meeting, mas maganda po umalis sila nang maaga sa kanilang bahay (If you have an emergency meeting, it is better to leave early from their home)," Castro recommended.
This came following the report that a ranking Philippine National Police (PNP) violated the strict rule of the use of EDSA Busway.
In a report by the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT), it said its personnel apprehended a convoy composed of Highway Patrol Group (HPG) motorcycles and two sports utility vehicles that were passing the northbound lane of EDSA busway in Ortigas area.
While he neither confirmed nor denied that it was his convoy, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said there was an emergency meeting of top police officials with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla before the convoy was stopped at the EDSA Busway.
Term 'emergency' must not be abused
Castro explained that the PNP is authorized to use the EDSA Bus Lane in case of emergency but they must prove that it is indeed an emergency, so that the use of "emergency should not be abused."
"Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, mayroon naman pong probisyon dito na kapag po in case of emergency and on duty, allowed naman po silang gumamit ng busway, EDSA Busway. Pero dapat lamang po, ito ay mapatunayan. Hindi po ‘to maaaring maabuso at gagamitin lang po iyong salitang 'emergency' (If I am not mistaken, there is a provision that in case of emergency and on duty, they are allowed to use the busway. But it has to be proven. The word emergency should not be abused)," she pointed out.
"So, bago po sila gumamit ng busway, siguraduhin lamang po nila na hindi nila aabusuhin iyong ibinigay sa kanilang karapatan na gumamit ng busway dahil gamit lamang ang salitang 'emergency' (So, before using the busway, they must ensure that they will not abuse the right given to them to use the busway just because of the word 'emergency')," she added.
Palace won't tolerate abuse
The undersecretary said the Palace will not tolerate abuse in using the busway, stressing that whoever violates it will have to be held accountable.
"[A]ng Palasyo po ay ayaw po ng abuso. Definitely po, kung sino iyong dapat managot, kung may pang-aabuso ay dapat lamang pong managot, hindi po ito tolerate ng Palasyo, ang mga abusing gawain, kung mayroon (The Palace does not want an abuse. Definitely, if there is an abuse, they must be held accountable. Abusive acts, if any, will not be tolerated by the Palace)," Castro said.
As of now, Castro said, the sanction for violating the EDSA Busway rule is only through paying a P5,000 penalty.
She added it can be a possible discussion to impose stricter sanctions to public servants violating the EDSA Busway regulation.