Driver of a U.S embassy vehicle issued a ticket for using EDSA busway

This file photo shows the segregated portion of the Edsa Bus Carousel lane or Edsa busway. INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO (Photo from NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines — A driver of a United States (US) embassy vehicle was issued a ticket for unauthorized use of the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) busway in Pasig City on Friday, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

The Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) said that a Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP) was issued to a 22-year-old American citizen around 8:30 a.m. at the Ortigas busway station.

The SAICT related that the American was driving a black SUV (sports utility vehicle) with diplomatic plates from the U.S Embassy.

He failed to show a driver’s license.

The foreigner instead presented his U.S passport.

Article continues after this advertisement

The driver then claimed to be working at the American embassy in Manila.

Article continues after this advertisement

A video posted by SAICT on Facebook showed that a passenger from the vehicle claimed that the photo-taking of the driver’s passport was illegal.

The driver challenged the SAICT officer to speak to a high-ranking Philippine National Police (PNP) official.

“Sir, we’re gonna have to report this to the U.S Embassy,” a passenger in the vehicle told the traffic officer.

“If we can handle it through PNP, that’s okay. If we have to report it to the U.S Embassy, we’re gonna have to make an official – diplomatic – that he is threatening to steal U.S diplomatic material,” the passenger claimed.

SAICT noted that basic information from a passport is needed to be issued a TOP.

A statement by U.S Embassy Spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay on Friday stated that “[t]he U.S. Embassy is aware of reports of a traffic incident regarding a member of the embassy community.”

READ: Convoy of President, other top gov’t officials allowed to use Edsa busway

It then instructed “all staff to obey Philippine laws, including traffic regulations.”

The DOTr then said that the busway is limited to the use of public utility buses, emergency vehicles and clearly-marked government vehicles.

The vehicles of the president, vice president, Senate president, House speaker and chief justice of the Supreme Court are also allowed to use the EDSA busway, said the Metro Manila Development Authority.

READ: Tulfo airs side on son’s busway use: An honest mistake, apology given