BY JOVEN TUNGALA
Senator Chiz Escudero apologized to the public and his fellow senators on Friday after the vehicle carrying the protocol plate issued to him was apprehended for using the EDSA bus lane.
“I apologize to the public and my colleagues in the Senate for this oversight. Moving forward, I commit to ensure that the protocol plates entrusted to me are used appropriately, consistent with the provisions of Executive Order No. 56, s. 2024,” Escudero said in a statement.
According to him, the use of his protocol plate was “unauthorized,” adding that the vehicle apprehended by a traffic enforcer from the Department of Transportation’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation on Thursday was being driven by a “driver of a family member.”
He did not disclose the identity of the said family member.
“The No. 7 protocol plate was also abused because vehicles with these plates are not allowed to use bus lanes,” he said.
Following the incident, the senator said he had “directed” the driver to appear before the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to “comply with the show-cause order issued to him and to answer the charges he faces for the violation.”
He noted that he would surrender the protocol plates issued to him to the LTO while clarifying that he did not use such plates.
“I do not personally use the protocol license plates issued to me, and forthwith the protocol plates involved in the incident will be surrendered to the LTO,” he said.
Escudero also commended authorities for their “vigilance” and reiterated his “support for government efforts to ensure that traffic rules and regulations in Metro Manila are observed by all—regardless of rank, title, or position.”
