Nebrija suspended pending MMDA probe on Revilla’s supposed EDSA bus lane violation

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Romando Artes announced the preventive suspension of MMDA Task Force Special Operations Unit chief, Col. Bong Nebrija, beginning Thursday pending an investigation on the tagging of Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. in a supposed violation of EDSA bus carousel regulation on Wednesday.

In an interview with Senate reporters, Artes said there is a need to suspend Nebrija to determine what really transpired during the event, without being influenced by the hierarchy.

He added there's a need to probe why the enforcers thought it was a Revilla was inside the vehicle "when in fact it's not him."

"Of course, that would be lapses on the part of enforcers," Artes told reporters in Filipino.

Artes also raised the possibility of filing charges against the vehicle driver who dropped Revilla's name during the apprehension. MMDA is also probing why the name of the Senator was involved.

He said the preventive suspension was issued so that the investigation wouldn't be influenced if the person involved is higher ranking.

"'Yung mga enforcers natin ay mababang empleyado lamang at hindi naman po ganun makakapag-exert ng influence kaya hindi na po natin sila isu-suspend," he added.

According to Artes, Nebrija's suspension may take 15 days to 30 days while the probe is ongoing.

Revilla already categorically denied that he used the EDSA bus lane.

In a statement, the MMDA cited that the license plate of the flagged-down vehicle was a protocol plate as seen based on CCTV footage.

Meanwhile, Artes said the MMDA is still discussing and studying the impact of allowing vehicles with protocol plates 6, 7, and 8 in the bus carousel lane.

"Because there need to study the implications in so far as the mobility of the buses, especially with our Congressmen—numbering to more than 300," he said.

Artes stressed that the bus carousel lane purposively provides faster mobility for public utility buses.