The Edsa busway 鈥� INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Malaca帽ang on Thursday reminded the Philippine National Police (PNP) that the term 鈥渆mergency鈥� should not be used as an excuse to break the Edsa busway rules.
At a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro was asked to comment on the PNP鈥檚 proposal to let them use the Edsa bus lane during emergencies.
鈥淚f I鈥檓 not mistaken, there is a provision that allows them to use the busway in case of an emergency and if they are on duty,鈥� she said in Filipino.
鈥淏ut this must be properly verified; it must not be abused by merely using the term 鈥檈mergency.鈥� Before they use the busway, they must ensure that they are not misusing the privilege granted to them by simply invoking the word 鈥檈mergency,'鈥� she added.
READ: PNP chief: Convoy had to use Edsa busway due to 鈥榚mergency meeting鈥�
Castro pointed out that emergencies do not include 鈥渆mergency meetings,鈥� which was PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil鈥檚 defense of why a PNP convoy passed through the Edsa busway Tuesday evening.
鈥淲hen we talk about PNP members, ambulances, and fire trucks, an 鈥檈mergency meeting鈥� is not included as a valid emergency. If they have an emergency meeting, it would be better for them to leave their homes earlier,鈥� she said in Filipino.
On the list of vehicles allowed to use the Edsa bus lane are ambulances on duty, fire trucks, service vehicles used for busway-related operations, and the convoys of the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker, and Chief Justice.