MMDA apologizes to ex-solon Co over EDSA bus lane violation tagging

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday apologized to former Ako-Bicol party-list Representative Christopher Co after the agency reported that one of the vehicles caught using the EDSA bus lane has a protocol plate 8 owned by the former congressman.

In a press conference, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes admitted that suspended Task Force Special Operations chief Bong Nebrija did not verify if the vehicle was actually owned by Co before disclosing the information to the public.

“Although ‘yung protocol plate ay naka-issue sa pangalan ni Mr. Co, hindi po kanyang sasakyan at hindi po kanyang driver ‘yung nag-name drop sa kanya,” Artes explained.

(Although the protocol plate was issued to the name of Mr. Co, the vehicle that was used was not his and the driver who mentioned him is not affiliated to him.)

Even if the former congressman was truly apprehended, Artes said Nebrija should not have disclosed the name of Co as well as Senator Bong Revilla because it is a violation of the Data Privacy Act.

“Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin kay Mr. Christopher Co at again kay Senator Revilla at salamat po sa pagiging statesman ng dalawang taong ito na tinanggap po ang ating paghingi ng paumanhin at naintindihan nila ang ating enforcer si Col. Nebrija at tinanggap po nila ang ating paliwanag,” he said.

(I apologize to Mr. Christopher Co and to Senator Revilla. I thank them for being a statesman and for accepting our apology. We also thank them for understanding Col. Nebrija.)

The MMDA chief also disclosed that Co has already communicated to him and asked for the names of the drivers that tagged him in the EDSA bus lane violation.

“In fact, nag-communicate na sa atin si Mr. Co na dati rin pong congressman at hinihingi niya po ‘yung pangalan ng driver para po ma-trace yung sasakyan at sabi niya po magpa-file siya ng necessary case sa paggamit ng kanyang pangalan,” he said.

(In fact, former Congressman Co has already reached out to us and he is asking for the names of the drivers to trace the vehicles that were used. He said he will file necessary cases against the drivers for using his name.)

Artes added that they will no longer call the enforcer who caught the drivers who used the EDSA bus lane because a traffic violation ticket has already been issued.

The MMDA will just give the information of the drivers and the vehicles involved to Co because the former congressman wanted the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the matter, he added.

Like in the case of Senator Bong Revilla, Artes said it is up to Co if he will file charges against the individuals who tagged him in the EDSA bus lane violation.

MMDA Task Force Special Operations chief Bong Nebrija was suspended for reporting that Co and Revilla were apprehended for using the EDSA bus lane—a report which the senator and the former solon denied.

The suspension may take 15 to 30 days, Artes said, as they need to fully investigate the matter.—AOL, GMA Integrated News