Jamaine Punzalan

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) inaugurates its new Communications and Command Center within their new head office in Pasig City on July 12, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

MMDA Inaugurates new Command Center

Izzy Lee

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/178452228975220230712-mmda-command-communication-center-md-16.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) inaugurates its new Communications and Command Center within their new head office in Pasig City on July 12, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — A traffic enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday said he panicked after learning of a medical emergency involving his child, which he said led to his <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/19/mmda-traffic-enforcer-na-nakainom-dumaan-sa-edsa-busway-1628">driving onto the EDSA Busway against traffic.</a></p><p>A video recorded on July 16 showed the enforcer counterflowing along the northbound EDSA Busway near White Plains Avenue in Quezon City while a bus was approaching from the opposite direction.</p><p>The 52-year-old enforcer said he received a call from his wife informing him that their 10-year-old child, who has Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect, was having difficulty breathing.</p><p>&quot;Nakatanggap po ako ng tawag sa aking asawa. Nataranta po ako eh. Black out po &#x27;yung aking pag-iisip, nataranta po ako. Di ko po alam na mali ‘yung aking napasok,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/30/palace-lukewarm-to-open-edsa-busway-to-other-vehicles-1631">Palace lukewarm to open EDSA busway to other vehicles </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/29/dotr-rejects-carpooling-idea-on-edsa-busway-2144">DOTr rejects carpooling idea on EDSA Busway </a></div><p>He also admitted that he came from a birthday party where he consumed alcohol but insisted he was not intoxicated.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1345555547761677%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=""></iframe></div><p>The MMDA identified the enforcer as a Traffic Aid I who has been with the agency for 22 years. Officials said he could face dismissal from the service for grave misconduct over the incident.</p><p>&quot;Sa tingin natin based on the facts gathered, di natin pinapangunahan, pero based sa ating nakikitang facts of the case, may grave misconduct na pwedeng dismissal ang parusa,&quot;  said MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III.</p><p>&quot;Nalulungkot ang MMDA, siyempre sa nangyaring ito nakita natin breach of internal discipline at ito ay hindi natin tino-tolerate… Sa ngayon the MMDA will be throwing the full force of the law, all the books on him regarding sa administratibong disiplina,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/20/cop-apologizes-for-edsa-busway-crash-1116">Cop apologizes for EDSA Busway crash </a></div><p>The enforcer has been issued a show cause order.</p><p>MMDA Traffic Enforcement Group Director III Vic Nuñez said the agency has a strict internal policy.</p><p>&quot;We have an internal policy na bawal po dumaan sa busway ang aming mga kawani… Yung pagsalubong niya, pag-counterlow at pagdaan sa busway can be considered grave misconduct,&quot; Nuñez said.</p><p>The agency said the final administrative penalty would depend on the enforcer&#x27;s response to the show cause order.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/1/5/traffic-along-edsa-improved-despite-recent-busway-rehab-says-mmda-1345">Traffic along EDSA improved despite recent busway rehab, says MMDA </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/16/mmda-s-gabriel-go-barred-from-joining-clearing-ops-pending-investigation-1521">MMDA’s Gabriel Go barred from joining clearing ops pending investigation </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/9/mmda-launches-ncap-service-on-egovph-1248">MMDA launches NCAP service on eGovPH</a></div><div><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/hJiQdZINnBg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>A traffic enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday said he panicked after learning of a medical emergency involving his child, which he said led to his driving onto the EDSA Busway against traffic.</p>

A traffic enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday said he panicked after learning of a medical emergency involving his child, which he said led to his driving onto the EDSA Busway against traffic.

Traffic enforcer says panic over child’s medical emergency led to EDSA Busway violation

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Traffic enforcer says panic over child’s medical emergency led to EDSA Busway violation

Izzy Lee,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 20, 2026 12:42 PM PHT

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