The Philippine National Police (PNP) has relieved from post the police officer driving the vehicle that entered the EDSA busway Wednesday afternoon and caused a bus to crash into a railing amid the ongoing probe.
“The PNP has initiated a thorough investigation into the incident. In line with this, the police officer involved has been relieved from duty pending investigation,” the PNP said in a statement Thursday night.
“Prior to this, the police driver has been issued an Ordinance Violation Receipt by the Quezon City Traffic Enforcement Group for reckless driving,” it added.
The PNP pointed out its “zero tolerance policy” towards misconduct of its personnel.
“We place utmost importance on strict adherence to traffic rules and regulations, as well as the responsible utilization of government-issued vehicles,” it said.
“The PNP remains dedicated to serving and protecting the Filipino people, while upholding the integrity of our esteemed organization and its core principles,” it added.
Five passengers were hurt in the crash. They were brought to the Labor Hospital as they sustained scratches and lumps, and also suffered from dizziness.
The victims were later on discharged from the hospital.
Dashcam footage showed the bus was traversing EDSA busway when a police car suddenly appeared, entered the busway, and almost hit the bus.
The bus avoided the police car and hit the fence of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) at Santolan Station southbound.
Due to this, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) reminded motorists with vehicles authorized to use the EDSA busway to be careful and prioritize the safety of their passengers.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News
