The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) deployed on Tuesday morning, Nov. 28, a special team that was tasked to run after motorists who would use the EDSA Busway using unauthorized motor vehicles.

The deployment of the members of the MMDA Special Operations Group - Strike Force started at around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, and almost four hours later, a total of 41 motorists were apprehended.

(photo: MMDA)

MMDA chairman Don Artes said the MMDA Special Operations Group - Strike Force is a restructured group that was assigned to conduct more aggressive campaign against erring motorists who are unauthorized to use the EDSA Busway

The group, he said, is headed by Assistant General Manager for Operations Asec. David Angelo Vargas.

Vargas replaced retired colonel Bong Nebrija who was suspended over an incident involving alleged namedroppers of Sen. Bong Revilla.

On this aggressive operation, Vargas said the apprehending officers will have body-worn cameras with them to serve as a protection for both the enforcers and the apprehended matorists.

(photo: MMDA)

"Our body-worn cameras are connected to our Communications and Command Center and its feed cannot be edited and the device cannot be turned off, as well. This also eliminates hearsays and he-said-she-said arguments," said Vargas.

Vargas also noted that the higher fines on EDSA Busway violations are effective as he attributed it to the decline of the number of apprehended motorcycle riders and drivers.

Of the motorists apprehended on Tuesday, 23 of them are motorcycles, 17 are four-wheeled vehicles, and one is a public utility bus.

During the first week of the implementation of higher fines versus EDSA busway violators starting November 13, there were 1,262 motorists apprehended while the MMDA registered 345 apprehensions last week.