MANILA, Philippines- Pinaalalahanan ng United States Embassy sa Maynila ang mga tauhan nito na sundin ang batas ng Pilipinas matapos isyuhan ng tiket ang driver ng isang SUV na may diplomatic plates ng US Embassy nang dumaan ito sa EDSA busway sa kahabaan ng Ortigas Avenue nitong Biyernes ng umaga.
Sa isang kalatas, sinabi ng embahada na batid nito ang napaulat na traffic incident kaugnay sa isang miyembro ng komunidad nito.
“The US Embassy instructs all staff to obey Philippine laws, including traffic regulations,” ayon sa embahada.
Ayon sa ulat, sinabi ng Department of Transportation-Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) na hindi nakapagprisinta ang Amerikanong driver ng valid license at sa halip ay pasaporte lamang nito ang ipinakita.
Sa video na ipinost ng DOTr-SAICT, isa pang Amerikano na pasahero ang nagsabi sa enforcers na burahin ang larawan ng pasaporte ng kanyang kasama matapos igiit na ilegal umano ito.
Sinabihan din nito ang sinitang officer na makipag-usap sa high-ranking police officer upang maresolba ang isyu.
“Sir, we gonna have to report this to the US Embassy, if we can handle it through the PNP that’s okay,” anang Amerikano.
“If we have to report it to the US Embassy, we’re gonna make an official diplomatic…that he is threatening to steal US diplomatic material…I don’t wanna to do that,” dagdag niya. “I would like to handle this through PNP, we’re going to Camp Crame…If we can just finish this, so this stays low, that will be much better.”
Batay naman sa social media post ng DOTr-SAICT, “The situation heated up when another American from the vehicle challenged the photo-taking of the passport, claiming it was illegal, and demanded the image be deleted. He also asked that the apprehending officer speak to a high-ranking police officer to resolve the issue before it escalated to embassy level.”
“Despite the tension, the driver received a ticket.”
Tanging convoys Pangulo, Bise Presidente, Senate President, House Speaker, at Chief Justice lamang ang pinapayagang gumamit ng EDSA Busway, kabilang ang on-duty ambulances, fire trucks, at police cars.
Samantala, sa kabila ng tensyon, nakatanggap naman ang driver ng Temporary Operator’s Permit. Kris Jose
