Rowegie Abanto

Nicolas Torre III. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes joins Gen. Nicolas Torre III, the newly appointed MMDA General Manager, during a press conference at the MMDA Head Office in Pasig City on January 5, 2026. The briefing covers Gen. Torre's functions, preparations for the Traslacion, and updates on the EDSA rehabilitation.
Photo by Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div><br></div><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/178850502580020260105-mmda-general-manager-nicolas-torre-MT1.jpg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">The MMDA official explained that he had to carry his personal vehicle for his safety and security, citing his law enforcement background, as the agency had no armored vehicle for his use. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span>MANILA &mdash; Nicolas Torre III, the general manager of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and a retired police officer, on Friday apologized to the public after his personal-car-turned-MMDA-vehicle was caught on video using the EDSA Busway.</div><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&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1260157199541769%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Only public utility buses, ambulances, and marked government official vehicles are allowed to ply the busway, but there have been previous attempts by private car owners and other government service vehicles to use the lane to beat the EDSA traffic.</div><p>&quot;[I] apologize sa mga tao na &mdash; to those who are disappointed in me, I&#39;m really, really sorry for that,&quot; Torre, a former Philippine National Police chief, told ABS-CBN News in an interview.&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;Hopefully maraming leksiyon tayong natutunan dito.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/3/vehicle-caught-using-edsa-busway-belongs-to-torre-mmda-1419">Vehicle caught using EDSA Busway belongs to Torre &mdash; MMDA</a></div><p>Torre admitted that he was on board the vehicle but clarified that it was his personal driver who manned the car, which he bought from a religious organization for P3.5 million.</p><p>He shared the circumstances behind the EDSA Busway incident.</p><p>&quot;Mainit &#39;yung panahon. And then &#39;yung dalawang lane na on use ay may sasakyan na nakatigil dahil nasiraan, nag-overheat or what,&quot; Torre recounted.</p><p>&quot;So in-overtake-an namin. Pagdating sa dulo ng Guadalupe, tumabi ako doon sa ilalim ng MRT &mdash; may parking, may maliit na space &mdash; tapos bumalik kami, tinulak namin &#39;yung sasakyan, tumulong ako sa pagtutulak.&quot;&nbsp;</p><div><br></div><div><strong>PLATE</strong></div><div><br></div><p>MMDA chairman Don Artes on Thursday said they received a show-cause order for the incident because the erring vehicle carried a license plate that belonged to MMDA.</p><p>Torre said that he reproduced the plate of an idle MMDA vehicle and used that for his personal vehicle, an armored one, which had markings of the agency to make it appear like an official MMDA vehicle.</p><p>He admitted that it was &quot;wrong&quot; to do the &quot;shortcut&quot; and that he already paid a fine for the lack of authorization to replicate the licensed plate.</p><p>The MMDA official explained that he had to carry his personal vehicle for his safety and security, citing his law enforcement background, as the agency had no armored vehicle for his use.</p><p>According to the Land Transportation Office, Torre had voluntarily surrendered the vehicle.&nbsp;</p><p>It is under the custody of the agency while investigation is ongoing.</p><div><strong>&mdash;With a report from Izzy Lee, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></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/6M1yBDMwHKA?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br></div>

<p>Nicolas Torre III, the general manager of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), on Friday apologized to the public after his personal vehicle was caught on video using the EDSA Busway.</p>

Nicolas Torre III, the general manager of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), on Friday apologized to the public after his personal vehicle was caught on video using the EDSA Busway.

Torre apologizes over EDSA Busway incident: 'Hopefully maraming leksyon tayong natutunan dito'

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Torre apologizes over EDSA Busway incident: 'Hopefully maraming leksyon tayong natutunan dito'

Johnson Manabat,

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 04, 2026 03:27 PM PHT

|

Updated September 04, 2026 03:28 PM PHT

Read More:

MMDA

Nicolas Torre

EDSA Busway

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