TRAFFIC TICKET. A Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel shows a copy of a traffic violation receipt issued to a motorist caught illegally driving through the EDSA bus lane northbound in Mandaluyong City on Monday (Nov. 13, 2023). Starting Nov. 13, fines and penalties were increased up to PHP30,000 and the driver’s license will also be suspended for repeated violations. (PNA photo by Joey Razon)
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it would not tolerate police officers violating traffic laws and regulations.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo made this assurance after authorities apprehended a total of 514 violators, including five police officers, during the start of the implementation of higher fines for unauthorized users of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) bus lane on Monday.
“Malinaw naman ang tagubulin ng ating Chief PNP (Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr.) na hindi natin ito-tolerate ang anumang maling gawain ng ating mga pulis and kung sila ay nahuli, then we will be the first one to encourage the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) to file the necessary cases whether it's criminal or administrative case ay sasampahan natin ito because obviously, there is a violation ng existing laws sa pagdaan sa bus lane na hindi naman authorized ang kanilang lakad (The directive of our Chief PNP is clear that we will not tolerate any wrongdoing by our police and if they are caught, then we will be the first one to encourage the MMDA to file the necessary cases, whether it's criminal or administrative. We will file a case because obviously there is a violation of existing laws by passing through the bus lane, especially if their purpose is not authorized),” Fajardo told reporters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
MMDA Regulation No. 23-002 sets the new fines and penalties at PHP5,000 on the first offense, while a PHP10,000 fine, one-month suspension of driver’s license and participation in a road safety seminar on the second offense.
Repeating the violation for a third time will also result in a PHP20,000 fine plus one-year suspension of driver’s license while for fourth offense, the fine will be PHP30,000 plus a recommendation to the Land Transportation Office for revocation of driver’s license.
The fines will apply to both public and private vehicles that are not authorized to use the bus lane.
As of Tuesday, the MMDA said the number of motorists caught for unauthorized passing on the busway reached 107, of which 42 were motor vehicles while 65 were motorcycles.
The MMDA, meanwhile, has appealed to the Supreme Court to lift the temporary restraining order (TRO) on the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) as soon as possible.
MMDA chairperson Don Artes said the NCAP is necessary to "monitor and implement traffic rules and regulations on Metro Manila roads".
The NCAP utilizes closed-circuit television cameras to capture videos and images to apprehend vehicles violating traffic laws, rules and regulations. (PNA)
