Several passenger bus were apprehended early Thursday morning as they attempted to cross from Quezon City into Manila in defiance of a bus ban in the city.
Wearing camouflage reminiscent of his former role as commander in chief, Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada himself, along with Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and several traffic enforcers stopped buses at the Mabuhay Rotonda as they tried to enter the city.
“I heard on the radio that you were going to invade us”, Estrada laughingly explained to bus operators.
Buses owned by operators such as Safeway Transport, Corimba Express, Greenline Express and Thelma Trans even though they were “following the route indicated in their respective franchises.”
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, counsel for the bus operators, that said the bus firms do not want to break the law, and that they were “complying only with the bus franchise issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).”
The former chief executive had already warned bus operators that buses entering the city despite the ban will face penalties. “Let them try to enter the city. We will arrest them. They’re ignoring traffic rules and regulations. They’re being disrespectful,”, Estrada said.
Topacio insisted the resolution banning certain buses from the city is not a permanent law but only expresses the sentiment of the city council. But Vice Mayor Moreno said the resolution prompted the implementation of an old city ordinance that dates back to 1964.
Topacio and other stakeholders affected by City Resolution No. 48 were later invited to another dialogue with Estrada at the Manila City Hall. However, Vicente Javier, the reported owner of the Park N’ Ride terminal near Plaza Lawton failed to appear, temporarily ending talks.
Javier was supposed to explain the payment scheme at Park N’ Ride to Estrada and the bus operators. Bus companies have complained Park N’ Ride charges too much.
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Photo: Facebook page of Joseph Ejercito Estrada
