Sen. Chiz Escudero. Senate PRIB/File

MANILA — Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Friday admitted to "abusing" his government-issued protocol plate after his vehicle fled the scene during a traffic apprehension.

On Thursday, authorities flagged down an SUV bearing the plate "7," assigned to senators, for plying the EDSA bus lane. 

PANOORIN: SUV na may plakang ‘7’, tumakas nang sitahin sa pagdaan sa EDSA busway

When the driver surrendered their driver's license, the vehicle sped off before completing the procedure. The DOTr later said the traffic enforcers, who did not go after the vehicle, were "stunned" by the incident.

Escudero in a statement admitted the vehicle was his but said it "was being driven by the driver of a family member."

"The use of the protocol plate was unauthorized, as the vehicle was being driven by the driver of a family member... Following the incident, I have directed the driver to appear before the MMDA to comply with the show-cause order issued to him and to answer the charges he faces for the violation," Escudero said.

The senator said he was not personally using the issued protocol plates and would surrender them to the Land Transportation Office.

READ: New rules: Fewer protocol plates, sirens and blinkers banned

He also commended the traffic authorities for enforcing traffic rules "regardless of rank, title or position."

Escudero apologized to the public and to other senators for the "oversight."

"Moving forward, I commit to ensure that the protocol plates entrusted to me are used appropriately, consistent with the provisions of Executive Order No. 56, s. 2024," he said.

In an executive order signed last month but was only made public Thursday, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. outlined fresh regulations on the issuance of low numbered protocol license plates to government officials, cutting the number to 14 from the previous list of 16 officials entitled to use protocol license plates.

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