The clip of the incident circulated on social media.
In a directive on Wednesday, February 18, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez ordered the relief of Rayson dela Torre, the special operations group head of the Special Action Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT).
The move follows the operations conducted last Monday, which apprehended unauthorized ambulances using the EDSA busway.
It was reported that the SAICT official flagged the ambulance during the operations because it was transporting a patient for a medical check-up, and not for an emergency case.
In the clip posted on social media by a certain Manuel Palileo, an ambulance carrying a stage 4 cancer patient was flagged down along the EDSA Busway Santolan Station by enforcers of DOTr-SAICT.
According to the driver of the ambulance, they used EDSA Busway as the patient has a doctor’s appointment at 6:00 am.
The DOTr chief then highlighted in his order the statement made by Dela Torre in his interview, where he stated: “Hindi po natin tatanggapin na rason yung magpapacheck up yung pasahero sapagkat ‘eto naman po ay naka schedule na sa kani-kanilang ospital na pupuntalan. Ang papayagan na lang po natin ay iyong mga nag-aagaw buhay na mga pasyente.”
Although, it was stated in the November 2023 guidelines that on-duty ambulances are authorized to use the busway.
“On this premise, your statement that only ambulances with patients in critical condition may be allowed to use the Busway contradicts the existing policy which neither specify that only extreme cases of emergencies may be allowed nor prohibit the use of ambulances in non-emergency cases. The same only states that ‘on-duty’ ambulances may be allowed.“
In light of his relieving, the DOTr chief also ordered Dela Torre to explain within three days of receipt of the order that he must explain the incident and answer why no disciplinary action must be given against him.
“Furthermore, ensure that similar incidents will not occur, the DOT SAICT is hereby instructed to conduct a reorientation of personnel assigned in EDSA Busway on policies issued by the Department.”
Despite the said ambulance being allowed to use the busway after it was flagged, the Department of Transportation still expressed its heartfelt sympathy to the patient’s family.
“We are assuring the public that necessary measures are being taken to ensure that enforcement policies will be implemented with compassion and that the people’s safety will always be the transport agency’s priority and paramount concern,” it added.