PNP official to sue fake niece who used Edsa bus lane

FILE: Passengers board a bus at the Edsa Carousel busway in Monumento, Caloocan City on Wednesday morning (July 13, 2022). (PNA photo by Joey Razon)

MANILA – A ranking official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will file charges against a woman who reportedly introduced herself as his niece after enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) flagged her down for illegally using the Edsa bus lane on Thursday.

In a statement on Sunday, PNP Director for Logistics Maj.

Gen. Mario Reyes said he is already consulting his lawyers for the filing of appropriate charges against the busway violator.

He reiterated that the woman, who introduced herself as “Major Miguel” from the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), is not his relative by blood or affinity.

“I strongly condemn the act of namedropping me in a recent incident regarding a traffic violation of the EDSA bus lane policy,” he said.

“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. The PNP enforces the law without fear or favor,” he added.

Reyes appealed to the public to refrain from engaging in such “deceptive practices and to respect the authority of law enforcement officers.

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“I also urge concerned agencies to conduct a show cause order and thorough investigation and perhaps file usurpation of authority against that person,” Reyes said.

When an MMDA enforcer asked for her license, the woman said she is a niece of Reyes, working for ISAFP, and involved in the preparation of the “Balikatan” military exercises.

She asked that she be issued a traffic violation ticket but refused to present her license.