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Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Issue #77

MMDA chief's busway misuse triggers license revocation

The Land Transportation Office revoked the license of the driver of an MMDA-marked SUV with mismatched plates on the EDSA Busway, owned by MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III, who took a one-month leave. The incident fueled public criticism of enforcement agencies, while the PNP reported a 41.77% drop in focus crimes for August.

By the MMI Automotive Desk

MMDA chief's busway misuse triggers license revocation

The Land Transportation Office ([LTO](https://media-meter.com/report-library/lto-crackdown-and-ev-debate-dominate-philippine-auto-conversation "Lto crackdown and ev debate dominate philippine auto conversation")) revoked the driver's license of the person behind the wheel of a sport utility vehicle marked as a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) patrol unit that was caught using the restricted EDSA Busway with mismatched plates. The vehicle turned out to be personally owned by MMDA General Manager [Nicolas Torre III](https://media-meter.com/report-library/mmda-chief-apologizes-over-busway-fake-plate "Mmda chief apologizes over busway fake plate"), who took a one-month leave from his post effective September 8 and is reportedly considering retirement from public service.(http://zigwheels.ph/car-news/lto-revokes-license-of-mmda-marked-vehicle-driver-with-mismatched-plates)(https://manilatimes.net/2026/09/09/news/national/lto-revokes-mmda-marked-suv-drivers-license/2420836)(http://philstar.com/nation/2026/09/09/2554963/torre-takes-1-month-leave-mulls-retiring) The LTO found the driver guilty of using a license plate assigned to another vehicle, unauthorized entry into the busway, and installing non-permitted equipment and markings.(https://manilatimes.net/2026/09/09/news/national/lto-revokes-mmda-marked-suv-drivers-license/2420836) Torre, a retired national police chief, paid fines reportedly amounting to ₱14,000 for the multiple violations and surrendered the vehicle to the LTO.(http://philstar.com/opinion/2026/09/09/2554920/editorial-setting-bad-example) The controversy dominated the day's conversation across news outlets and social media, drawing heavy newspaper and online coverage worth an estimated ₱1.2 million in advertising-equivalent value across the items captured here, and triggering a wave of public cynicism toward the agencies tasked with enforcing traffic rules.(http://zigwheels.ph/car-news/lto-revokes-license-of-mmda-marked-vehicle-driver-with-mismatched-plates)(https://manilatimes.net/2026/09/09/news/national/lto-revokes-mmda-marked-suv-drivers-license/2420836)(http://panaynews.net/torre-goes-on-leave-as-edsa-busway-controversy-deepens)(http://philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/metro/2026/09/09/2554977/torre-pahinga-ng-isang-buwan-mmda)(http://philstar.com/opinion/2026/09/09/2554920/editorial-setting-bad-example)(http://philstar.com/nation/2026/09/09/2554963/torre-takes-1-month-leave-mulls-retiring)

The incident unfolded against a backdrop of other enforcement-related news. The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on September 8 that focus crimes nationwide fell by 41.77% in August compared with the same month last year, with motor vehicle carnapping down 67.74% (from 31 to 10 cases) and motorcycle carnapping down 53.64% (from 220 to 102 cases).(https://www.facebook.com/pnp.pio/posts/pnp-records-42-drop-in-focus-crimes-in-augustthe-philippine-national-police-pnp-/1627554982749226)(http://balita.mb.com.ph/2026/09/08/focus-crimes-sa-bansa-noong-agosto-bumaba-ng-4177pnp)(http://philstar.com/business/2026/09/09/2554952/pnp-crimes-down-42) The announcement drew substantial public engagement on the PNP's Facebook page, with over 9,650 likes and 6,213 comments.(https://www.facebook.com/pnp.pio/posts/pnp-records-42-drop-in-focus-crimes-in-augustthe-philippine-national-police-pnp-/1627554982749226) Yet the same day brought reports that undercut confidence in the data's real-world resonance: [two motorcycle riders](https://media-meter.com/report-library/motorcycle-crashes-and-lto-crackdown-dominate-road-safety-ta "Motorcycle crashes and lto crackdown dominate road safety ta") were killed instantly after crashing into a parked trailer truck in Antipolo City, a story that drew nearly 40,000 views on YouTube.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGzSJOAOq8U) A viral Reddit post showed a Toyota Fortuner cutting into a queue directly in front of an [LTO patrol vehicle](https://media-meter.com/report-library/ltos-zero-tolerance-crackdown-dominates-auto-news "Ltos zero tolerance crackdown dominates auto news"), accumulating over 1,000 upvotes and 128 comments.(https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/1wanpby/fortuner_siningitan_sa_pila_ang_lto_patrol_vehicle/) And an LTO-NIR pickup truck was caught parked illegally in a no-parking zone in Western Visayas, with the driver issued a show cause order.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8atT_aOUhA)

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