Sen. Raffy Tulfo. Bibo Nueva España, Senate PRIB/FileMANILA — Sen. Raffy Tulfo on Tuesday said he is considering holding an investigation into a motorist's use of a protocol plate '7' on EDSA Busway that the Land Transportation Office said was fake.

The '7' plate is only issued to senators but a sports utility vehicle (SUV) with that plate passed through the EDSA Busway on November 3 and evaded traffic enforcers.

Escudero: SUV na may plakang '7' na nagpumilit dumaan sa EDSA busway, dapat managot

“Gusto ko munang matukoy kung sino,” said Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said. 

(I want to find out who it was)

He said that once the identity of the SUV owner is known, he may call a hearing to look into a potential problem of fake protocol plates.

Tulfo said that he leaves it to the LTO to determine whether the '7' plate on the SUV was authentic or not.

“Ang importante kasi sino ‘yun? Sinong nameke ng plakang ‘yun? Sino ang may-ari ng plakang ‘yun? Bakit siya may ganung klaseng plaka? That is being investigated even while we speak at kasama na ako doon sa pag-iimbestiga,” he added.

(What matters is who it was. Who made the fake plate? Who owns the plate that was faked? Why does the motorist have that kind of plate? That is being investigated...and I am part of investigating it)

SUV with plate No. 7 drives inside bus lane, accused of attempting to run over traffic enforcer

Tulfo said the driver and owner of the vehicle in question should be made to face the law.

“Dapat talaga may parusa. Doon sa tumakas, nag-eskapo, eh pag nahuli siya dapat ‘yung may-ari ng sasakyan merong dapat parusa doon at ‘yung driver meron dapat sanction doon. Dapat ma-revoke ang kanyang lisensya. Ba’t siya tumakbo,” Tulfo said.

(There really should be a penalty. The owner of the SUV as well as the driver should face sanctions. The driver should have his license revoked. Why did the driver escape?)

Gatchalian denies owning vehicle caught using EDSA busway

The Department of Transportation said Sunday night that the driver of the SUV had tried to run over a traffic enforcer who had flagged the vehicle down.

The unidentified passenger of the SUV also flipped their middle finger at traffic enforcers, the department said.

The incident on the EDSA Busway has sparked comments online about privilege and double standards in the Philippines, where the wealthy and powerful are often afforded better treatment than regular Filipinos.

RELATED VIDEOS: