Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Bea Cuadra

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771199744315Screen Shot 2026-02-16 at 7.50.17 AM_cropped_processed_by_imagy.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Among those flagged were the drivers of two ambulances found to be using the lane despite not responding to actual emergencies.<br/></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Transportation’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) intensified its enforcement operations at the Santolan Bus Station on Monday morning, apprehending over 10 motorists for illegally using the EDSA Busway.</p><p>Among those flagged were the drivers of two ambulances found to be using the lane despite not responding to actual emergencies.</p><p>Rayson Dela Torre, head of the DOTr-SAICT Special Operations Group (SOG), emphasized that the busway is strictly for authorized vehicles and legitimate emergency cases. He noted that the agency has observed a rise in the misuse of emergency vehicles to bypass heavy traffic.</p><p>“Hinihigpitan po natin ang pagpapatupad ng ating mga batas trapiko, partikular dito sa loob ng EDSA Busway,” Dela Torre said. </p><p>“’Yung pong mga ambulansya na nakikita natin na dumadaan dito sa loob ng EDSA Busway, hinaharang na rin po natin at tinitingnan natin kung may kaukulang dokumento o trip ticket ‘yung kanilang pagbiyahe, at tinitingnan din natin ‘yung sitwasyon nung kani-kanilang pasyente.”</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1407069097745632%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>One ambulance driver from Bulacan admitted to entering the restricted lane to beat the 6:00 a.m. rush. Despite carrying signed documents, the papers lacked specific details regarding the trip.</p><p>“Check-up po siya ngayon eh… Sumisingit-singit lang ako [kasi] traffic. Pagka ‘yung palapit na sa bus lane ng terminal, kumakanan na ako para medyo mabilis-bilis lang nang kaunti… Nagmamadali po eh… Alas-sais, hinahabol namin [ang] oras,” the driver explained.</p><p>Dela Torre clarified that &quot;patient transport vehicles&quot; used for scheduled check-ups do not qualify as emergency vehicles and are prohibited from using the lane.</p><p>“Hindi po natin tatanggapin na rason ‘yung magpapa-check-up ‘yung pasahero sapagkat ‘yun naman po ay naka-schedule na doon sa kanilang mga ospital na pupuntahan,” he added. </p><p>“Ang papayagan na lamang natin ay ‘yung talagang nag-aagaw-buhay ang mga pasyente.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>UNSAFE LOADS AND PENALTIES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The operation also caught a jeepney driver who, while not using the busway, was flagged for an “unsafe load.” </p><p>The vehicle was carrying a pile of furniture and foam on its roof. The driver was cited for reckless driving, as Dela Torre noted the hazard the cargo posed to other motorists. </p><p>The final fine for the jeepney driver will be determined by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).</p><p>For those caught illegally traversing the EDSA Busway, the penalties remain steep:</p><div><br/></div><p>• First Offense: P5,000</p><p>• Second Offense: P10,000</p><p>• Third Offense: P20,000</p><p>• Fourth Offense: P30,000 and license suspension</p><div><br/></div><p>Authorities expressed frustration over the persistence of violators who seem undeterred by digital monitoring.</p><p>“’Yung pong mga kababayan po natin, mukhang hindi sila natatakot sa non-contact apprehension... binabalewala ng ilan nating pasaway na mga kababayan ito,” Dela Torre said, vowing that the physical presence of enforcers will continue. “Bumalik na kami dito para kayo ay hulihin isa-isa.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vsVZF3ZUq1I?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Among those flagged were the drivers of two ambulances found to be using the lane despite not responding to actual emergencies.</p>

Among those flagged were the drivers of two ambulances found to be using the lane despite not responding to actual emergencies.

SAICT flags 'check-up' ambulances, motorists in EDSA busway crackdown

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SAICT flags 'check-up' ambulances, motorists in EDSA busway crackdown

Bea Cuadra,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 16, 2026 07:56 AM PHT

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EDSA

Busway

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DOTr

SAICT

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