MMDA Official's Private Vehicle Flagged for EDSA Busway Violation

MANILA, Philippines — A government-marked vehicle privately owned by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicolas Torre III was flagged for using the exclusive EDSA busway, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes announced yesterday. "I think GM Torre has an admission that he owns the vehicle personally. It’s not an MMDA vehicle," Artes said. The MMDA-marked vehicle was intercepted after Land Transportation Office (LTO) officers observed that the patrol car had mismatched license plates as it traversed the busway. It was surrendered to the LTO. Torre, who surrendered the vehicle, said he used the busway to check out a vehicular accident ahead that had caused traffic on EDSA. Artes said the LTO has taken jurisdiction over the case to conduct an impartial investigation and for Torre to explain the issue. "This incident won’t affect the service of GM Torre. There is no suspension order released yet against him. There is no resolution to the investigation as of now. He will continue to work," Artes told reporters. The LTO has summoned the driver of the patrol vehicle to appear for a hearing today. The car remains in LTO custody pending investigation. Meanwhile, the LTO intercepted two vehicles caught allegedly using fake Armed Forces of the Philippines and LTO license plates. The LTO said the plates were mounted on the vehicles and being used to create the impression of special authority or status. Fake conduction stickers, blinkers and sirens were also confiscated. Stickers bearing the name of a member of Congress were also found inside the vehicles, the LTO said. LTO chief Markus Lacanilao said a probe is underway to find out the sources of the fake plates, stickers and gadgets. – Josiah Antonio