Sherwin evasive on SUV: Leave it to LTO

MANILA, Philippines —   Describing himself as a law-abiding public servant, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian broke his silence yesterday about the involvement of his family in the Cadillac vehicle with a Senate protocol plate that illegally entered the EDSA busway.

But he was tightlipped about his father’s alleged involvement, saying he would leave it to authorities to investigate the incident.

“I do not condone the traffic violations committed by the management of Orient Pacific Corp. As a public servant for 23 years, I have always adhered to following the rules and the laws of our land,” Gatchalian said.

“The issue is now with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and it is the agency’s responsibility to resolve the matter accordingly,” he added.

Gatchalian’s family was linked to the white Cadillac Escalade caught using the exclusive bus lane Sunday night after the driver and a representative of the Gatchalian firm Orient Pacific Corp. surrendered to the LTO, saying the luxury vehicle was registered to the company.

In a separate ambush interview yesterday, Gatchalian hoped the issue would be put to rest after the company paid the fine.

“The LTO is already investigating the incident. Let’s leave it at that for now,” Gatchalian said.

In a separate press briefing yesterday, Sen. Joel Villanueva said he would not allow a member of his family to use his protocol plate.

“I hope this will not be a big thing. I find it weird that it’s national news. LTO should do their part and the right thing. Public office is a public trust,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) clarified on Tuesday that the closed-circuit television footage of the Cadillac was not withheld.

The agency emphasized that requests for the footage were promptly granted to the Department of Transportation’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation, the LTO and Sen. Raffy Tulfo’s office.

MMDA Chairman Romando Artes addressed concerns raised about the incident, stating that the agency took into full consideration the urgency of the situation and acted immediately.

“All of the requests were fulfilled within minutes,” Artes said, adding that he had already clarified any miscommunication with Tulfo.

The senator had requested further review of the footage to verify the specific location where the Cadillac entered and exited the busway and to check if it re-entered the busway after being apprehended.— Mark Ernest Villeza