PNP general denies knowing Edsa busway violator ‘niece’

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine National Police (PNP) general yesterday denied that he is related to a motorist who claimed she was his “niece” after she was pulled over for illegally using the EDSA busway on April 11.

In a statement, Maj. Gen. Mario Reyes, who heads the PNP Directorate for Logistics, said he does not know the motorist who introduced herself as “Major Miguel.”

“I want to make it clear that this person who introduced herself as Major Miguel of the AFP is not a relative by blood nor by affinity. I never met her in any capacity,” he said, referring to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Enforcers from the Department of Transportation’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation caught the woman driving a black Toyota Fortuner with conduction sticker Z4 N317 at the Guadalupe station of the EDSA busway’s southbound lane.

Attempting to avoid being given a violation ticket, she told the enforcer she was a Filipino-American, a niece of Reyes, was working in the Intelligence Service of the AFP and involved in the Balikatan military exercises.

She refused to surrender her driver’s license and demanded the violation ticket from the enforcer before she drove off.

Reyes said he “strongly condemned” the woman’s attempt to avoid apprehension by namedropping him.

“Any attempt to exploit the name or reputation of a law enforcement officer for personal gain or to avoid accountability is utterly unacceptable and undermines the integrity of our organization,” he said.

He revealed he would consult his lawyers on the possibility of filing charges, including usurpation of authority, against the woman.

He also called on authorities to investigate the woman’s violations.