Passengers in fatigues move concrete barriers for errant bus

Two passengers wearing fatigues were recorded on video disembarking from a bus to move concrete barriers to allow the vehicle to pass through the lane on EDSA dedicated to point-to-point buses.

According to Cedric Castillo's report on "24 Oras," the Ceres Liner bus was seen traversing the regular lane, but cut through the other vehicles to cross to the dedicated lane and pass there to avoid the traffic.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said no other vehicles were authorized to use the special lane.

"Ang authorized lang dito ay 'yung city buses and for now, 'yung MRT bus augmentation. Definitely he's not part of the EDSA carousel route or the MRT bus augmentation," MMDA traffic operations chief Bong Nebrija said.

The bus was later on flagged down by authorities and the driver was given a violation ticket for disregarding a traffic sign. However, upon review of the video, the driver may face more violations, the MMDA said.

"Papatungan pa namin ng reckless driving. Ang balak ni [MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia] is ma-sanction 'yan, i-show cause order ng LTO o LTFRB the owner and the driver," Nebrija said.

The MMDA said it is still determining if bus is being used as vehicle service of the government personnel or frontliners.

"DOTr is also conducting its investigation kung libreng sakay 'yan para sa health workers, then they know kung sino 'yung mga dinispatch na uniformed personnel na 'yan. They should be answerable also for moving the traffic sign," he said.

According to Nebrija, the traffic constable who flagged down the bus reported that the uniformed personnel were from the military.

"We'll verify that from Bong Nebrija as to what his basis for that statement was, like plate number, etc. From there, we can look it up kung sa [Armed Forces of the Philippines] nga ba yan," AFP spokesperson Edgard Arevalo said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News