Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday said he did not direct any police official to break traffic laws, following reports that Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel used the exclusive EDSA Busway during an emergency.
In a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Remulla said only PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil could confirm whether the emergency in question was related to a kidnapping case.
“I asked him (Marbil) to appear. So whatever methodology he used to get there, let me make it clear—I did not give instructions to violate any traffic laws,” Remulla said.
He reiterated that the DILG and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have a firm ‘zero-tolerance policy’ on unauthorized use of the EDSA Busway.
“Even I do not use the busway,” he said.
In a separate interview, Marbil defended a police convoy flagged for using the EDSA Busway, citing the senior officials took the lane to attend an emergency meeting at Camp Crame.
However, Remulla said the department will investigate whether the PNP abused its authority when police vehicles used the EDSA busway, which is reserved for buses.
“Well, number one is the regular policy but number two, it will be investigated whether it is an abuse of authority or not,” he said.
“Now, in this case involving General Marbil, I was not aware until after the fact. I was not informed, but he was aware of the emergency,” he added.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “DILG: No order to break traffic rules in cases of emergency.”