MANILA — Senator Ronald dela Rosa told the media he does not have a vehicle similar to the one that illegally used the EDSA Busway on Sunday and has a No. 7 protocol plate that authorities have initially claimed is fake.

Dela Rosa said he does not even use that plate, for security reasons. The '7' plate is reserved for senators only.

"Wala. Cadillac 'yun. Mahal 'yun. Hindi ko kaya 'yun. Mahal 'yun na sasakyan. At saka, hindi rin ako mahilig gumagamit ng 'Number 7,' the plate number," he stressed.

(No. I can't afford a Cadillac. That's an expensive vehicle. And, besides, I really don't like using the No. 7 plate)

The lawmaker said the plate can "give drug lords a chance to ambush you".

"Bakit ko pa i-announce to the whole world na senador ako, na alam ko naman na senador ako," he added.

(Why would I announce to the whole world that I'm a senator when I already know that I'm a senator)

Dela Rosa said getting protocol plates is optional and he prefers not to have them.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero earlier said that, according to LTO, there was no Number 7 protocol plate issued for the particular vehicle shown in the video.

Escudero urges LTO to name owner of SUV with '7' plate in EDSA Busway incident

LTO Executive Director Greg Pua said the '7' plate used by a Cadillac Escalade does not have the distinguishing features and design of protocol plates issued by his office.

“Hindi po yan in-issue ng LTO. Hindi rin nag-issue ang LTO ng protocol plate '7' sa isang white Escalade,” he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

(That was not issued by the LTO. The LTO did not issue a '7' protocol plate for a white Escalade)

Pua said the LTO is now tracing the vehicle, noting there are only a limited number of Cadillac Escalades in the Philippines. He said that, to his knowledge, no senator currently owns an Escalade.

“That is one action we are studying. If we cannot see the conduction sticker, this is what we will do next,” he said.

If caught, he said, the driver of the Escalade could face charges for violation of the use of the EDSA Busway including suspension and even possible revocation of license.

Only the vehicle of the president, vice president, Senate president and House speaker is allowed to use the EDSA Busway, he said.

Escudero previously raised suspicion over the authenticity and validity of the protocol plate. He also mentioned that the act must not go unpunished.