By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
The police officer driving the police minibus involved in a collision with a public utility bus has been relieved from his post, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.
The incident happened near the EDSA bus carousel Main Avenue Station around 5:00 p.m. on April 17, the third day of the transport strike, and the PNP’s Libreng Sakay program in response to the protest action.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP Logistics Support Service (LSS) Director PBGen. Noel Vallo said that upon hearing the news, he immediately caused the transfer of the driver and his immediate supervisor to the Holding and Accounting Unit (PHAU) pending proper investigation.
Vallo told reporters, “’Yun ang malinaw, [walang] sacred cow dito, kung nagkamali ka pasensyahan tayo, trabaho ito. Explain mo kung may negligence on your part. Administrative (case) is ongoing on the liability of our personnel, yung driver.”
He added, “Napaka swift ang reaction natin sa mga ganyan dahil ang ating chief PNP mahigpit ang ipinag-uutos na zero tolerance tayo with regards to erring policemen.”
He said PNP marked vehicles are allowed to use the EDSA bus lane during the three-day transport strike to provide resources to aid the riding public, but the driver miscalculated while turning left and hit the bus.
In a separate press briefing at the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in Quezon City, Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Calinisan said he directed the Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service to conduct a motu proprio investigation against Master Sgt. Jenifer Bredico, the driver of the PNP minibus.
This after the driver of the EDSA Carousel bus, Jessie Soledad, alleged that Bredico demanded his driver’s license after the incident.
He noted that what could have been a simple incident was unnecessarily escalated, pointing out that the officer failed to extend a basic apology, remained unyielding, swerved across multiple lanes, and even demanded payment for the damage to the police vehicle.
Napolcom will also investigate Quezon City Police District Traffic Enforcement Unit chief Lt. Col. Geoffrey Lim for allegedly preparing a misleading progress report claiming an “amicable settlement” between Soledad and Bredico, which the bus driver denied.
Calinisan said in a statement, “We have to win the hearts and minds of Filipinos every single day. Tayong mga nasa gobyerno, clerk man o mataas na opisyal, we are called to serve with integrity. Ito ang malinaw na mandato ng ating Pangulo: magserbisyo nang tuwid at tapat, at linisin ang hanay ng kapulisan.
He added, “Hindi madali ang manita ng pulis, ngunit tungkulin namin ito bilang pulis ng pulis. We will do our job, no matter how difficult it is, to protect the integrity of the police service and the trust of the people.”
EDSA Busway incident now under probe
Meanwhile, PNP Chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered an administrative review to determine the circumstances of the incident and to check whether proper protocols were followed.
He said the probe will also look into command supervision and possible lapses in discipline within the unit involved.
Nartatez Jr. said in his speech during Monday’s flag raising at Camp Crame, “Clearly, it shows the state of discipline over our drivers. I am asking the concerned directorial staff to issue the corresponding reminders and to ensure that corrective measures be served to those erring personnel.” (PNA)
