MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has defended a police convoy that illegally used the EDSA busway on Tuesday evening, saying it was allowed in emergency cases.
According to PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, the senior police officials had an emergency closed door meeting at Camp Crame prompting the use of the busway.
“Meron naman po doon sa guidelines na kapag ang mga PNP officers ay (may) urgent and emergency in nature (activity) pupuwede naman pong dumaan po,” Fajardo said in a press conference on Wednesday.
“Pero hindi na po nakipagtalo itong convoy at nakiusap na lang po na hayaan muna pong maihatid yung ating officers po sa Camp Crame. At bumalik po sila para kunin ang ticket intended po sa kanilang supposed violation,” she added.
Fajardo declined to reveal the names of the “senior officers” on board for security reasons after the plate numbers of the involved vehicles were publicized in videos online.
“What we can confirm po ay these senior officers are holding sensitive positions po,” Fajardo said.
“Considering po na nailabas na yung mga video including yung plakang sasakyan ay kailangan din po nating proteksyunan yung kanilang security,” she added.
Meanwhile, in a radio interview PNP Police General Rommel Marbil confirmed that the unnamed senior police officials in the convoy had an emergency closed door meeting at Camp Crame Tuesday evening.
“Kahapon kasi there [was] an emergency and there [was] an issue that we have to resolve. Kailangan ‘yung presensiya ng pulis namin na higher ups. Nag-closed door meeting and something happened sa operation last night,” Marbil told DZBB AM radio.
“Ang sinasabi ko nga sa PNP natin, itong SAICT they are just doing their job, we have to respect them. Ang pulis pag nahuli, get the ticket. Lahat kami we are just doing our job,” Marbil added.
The EDSA busway, a dedicated bus lane, serves commuters from Caloocan City up to Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Parañaque City./PN
