PBA player Raymond Almazan found himself in the news for the wrong reason after he was accused of trying to bribe his way out of a traffic violation along the Edsa Busway on Monday.
The Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) reported on its Facebook page that Almazan was flagged down by traffic enforcrs for using the EDSA Busway in an unauthorized vehicle.
Only authorized buses and vehicles of top officials in government are allowed to use the special Edsa lane.
DOTr-SAICT reported that operatives noticed the 6-foot-8 slotman, who was driving an SUV, bringing out money and crumpling it in an alleged attempt to bribe an officer. A video of the attempted bribe was posted on the DOTr-SAICT Facebook page.
WATCH:
According to the post, the traffic officer refused the money and issued a violation ticket to Almazan for disregarding traffic signs and for driving without the certificate of registration (CR) and official receipt (OR) of the vehicle.
Unathorized use of the Edsa Busway carries a P5,000 fine for the first offense while a P1,000 penalty is meted for failure to carry the OR/ CR of a vehicle.
It was not reported if Almazan was charged for the alleged bribe attempt.
On the same day of Almazan’s apprehension, Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson apologized to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for illegally passing at the EDSA bus lane, while also rewarding the government agency P200,000 for their efforts in enforcing traffic rules.
Here's the caption of the video as posted on Facebook:
PANOORIN: Kuha ang aktwal na panunuhol ng isang PBA player na si Raymond Almazan ng Meralco Bolts team sa isang operatiba ng Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) nitong Lunes, ika-15 ng Abril 2024.
Ayon sa report ng SAICT Coast Guard Jayson Montemayor, habang isinasagawa ang operasyon sa EDSA busway, isang hindi awtorisadong sasakyan ang naglakas loob dumaan sa carousel na minamaneho ng isang basketball player na si Mr. Almazan.
Napansin ng operatiba na naglabas ito ng pera at kinurompot paabot sa nasabing officer. Agad naman tinanggihan at inissuehan ng violation ticket na Disregarding Traffic Sign (DTS) at Failure to carry OR/CR.
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