MANILA, Philippines — A luxury vehicle with a senator’s plate number allegedly attempted to run over a traffic enforcer after being stopped on the EDSA Bus Lane, prompting Senate President Francis Escudero to demand the identification of the car’s owner.

On Sunday evening, a white SUV bearing license plate number seven (reserved for senators) was caught attempting to pass through the bus lane.

The Department of Transportation’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) reported the incident on Sunday night, stating that traffic enforcer Sarah Barnachea tried to apprehend the driver.

“However, the driver, instead of cooperating, attempted to run over Secretariat Barnachea and flee the scene,” the DOTr-SAICT said in its Facebook post.

The driver found an open barrier and swerved out of the bus lane. To make matters worse, as the officers were running away, the passenger in the backseat of the SUV flipped a finger at them.

Footage from the agency showed officers asking for the driver’s license, but the SUV reversed out of the officers’ line of sight.

SUV Using Fake Protocol Plate – LTO

According to the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the vehicle in the video was using a fake protocol plate.

“The initial information we have based on the assessment of the pieces of evidence at hand is that the ‘7’ protocol plate attached to the SUV in the viral video is fake,” the LTO said in a statement on Monday afternoon.

Furthermore, Sen. Raffy Tulfo said LTO Executive Director Greg Pua Jr. informed him that the protocol plate was confirmed to be counterfeit as it lacked security elements that should have been included.

“Unacceptable” – Escudero

“The actions of the driver/passenger are unacceptable,” said Senate President Chiz Escudero, condemning the behavior of the SUV’s occupants, especially given the misuse of a protocol plate reserved for members of the Senate.

“I urge LTO (Land Transportation Office) to identify the owner-user of the vehicle and to inform the Senate as soon as possible,” Escudero said in a statement to reporters.

“If indeed the owner is a member of the Senate, I expect him/her to come forward and instruct the person/s driving the vehicle to responsibly face the consequences of their actions as soon as they know and find out about the incident themselves and to surrender and present themselves to the authorities accordingly,” the senator emphasized.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista also denounced the driver’s and passenger’s actions.

“Our officers were simply doing their jobs to maintain order and ensure the smooth flow of traffic. We will work closely with the authorities to identify and apprehend the individuals responsible and hold them accountable for their actions,” Bautista said.

Only ambulances, police cars, fire trucks, and other service vehicles used for bus lane maintenance are allowed to use the bus lane, in addition to buses. High-ranking government officials permitted to use the lane include the president, vice president, Senate president, speaker of the House of Representatives, and the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

📹 📷 DOTR-SAICT