The PNP has ordered an impartial investigation into a collision on EDSA near Main Avenue, Cubao (northbound) involving a police-marked vehicle linked to the Libreng Sakay free-ride program and a public utility bus. The incident happened April 17 and went viral online, triggering questions about proper deployment, traffic discipline, and whether protocol was followed.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said they are now reviewing operational records to confirm if the vehicle was properly authorized and on official duty at the time. The PNP is verifying documents like the trip ticket and dispatch orders, warning that if the trip wasn’t tied to a legitimate operation, it could mean a direct violation of deployment rules.
Nartatez stressed that police markings and uniforms aren’t “free passes” on the road. He said there is no special lane for personnel with no official business, and that both the driver and the supervisor can be held accountable if rules were breached. He also warned that traffic violations on EDSA could mean double consequences—a fine from the MMDA plus an administrative case from the PNP.
The crash happened after the PNP rolled out Libreng Sakay from April 15 to 17, offering free rides for commuters affected by the three-day transport strike. The investigation will also look into command supervision and possible discipline lapses, with sanctions to follow depending on the findings.
Image from Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo