Passenger bus, PNP coaster collide on EDSA Busway

A passenger bus and a coaster of the Philippine National Police (PNP) collided along the EDSA Busway last Friday afternoon, April 17. 

According to Katrina Son’s report in “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday, CCTV footage showed two buses heading northbound along the EDSA Busway.

Moments later, a PNP coaster swerved into their path and was hit by one of the passenger buses on the bus lane.

“Inagawan niya po ako ng linya kaya ko po siya nabangga,” the bus driver said. 

(He cut into my lane, that is why I ended up hitting the coaster.)

The driver added that a police officer told his passengers to come down.

He and the police officer went to the traffic sector. When the night came, the said police officer reportedly called him.

“Tumawag po siya sa akin, ako din daw po sasagot ng coaster na nabangga ko,” the driver said. 

(He called me and said that I would also be the one to pay for the damages to the coaster I hit.) 

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said both parties have already settled the matter. The driver denied that the issue was already settled between him and the police officer. 

In a statement, PNP chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said an administrative review will be conducted regarding the incident. Their next action will depend on the results of the investigation.

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), on the other hand, ordered the police officer to report to its office on Monday. 

“Hindi katanggap-tanggap na may klarong pangaabuso mula sa hanay ng kapulisan. Dapat ipakita natin sa taong bayan na hindi natin pinapayagan na may pangaabuso sa hanay ng mga pulis,” said NAPOLCOM commissioner Rafael Calinisan. 

(It is unacceptable that there is a clear abuse on the part of our police force. We should show the people that we do not condone abuses of police officers.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA News