TV crew cab driver tailing Aquino's convoy ticketed for violating traffic rule

A television crew cab following the convoy of President Benigno Aquino III on Friday was not spared by traffic officials for violating traffic rules while rushing to cover a presidential event. Aquino just came from an event in Pasay City and on his way to Malacañang when the incident happened. The President’s convoy stopped at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and Vito Cruz near the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex when the traffic light turned red. While the President's convoy and the other media vehicles stopped at a red light before turning left at Roxas Boulevard, a TV5 vehicle went against the flow of traffic on the opposite lane, and caught up with the presidential vehicle. A traffic officer at the scene of the incident who was not immediately identified told reporters that it was Aquino himself who ordered authorities to issue a traffic violation ticket to the driver of the TV5's crew cab. At a later press briefing, Aquino said the crew cab should have followed the traffic rules. "Andun pa naman yung mga streamer na "the law applies to all or none at all" ni (Manila) Mayor (Alfredo) Lim," the President said. He said he was unaware of the incident as he was then studying the 23 measures being considered as priority bills for a Cabinet meeting this afternoon. Asked if he was the one who personally ordered the issuance of a traffic violation ticket to the TV crew cab driver, he said: "Hindi ko na siguro trabaho yung traffic naman." Aquino had shown his displeasure with violation of traffic rules as symbolized by the "wangwang" (siren), ever since he assumed the presidency on June 30 last year. He spoke out against the wangwang, which he described as a symbol of inequality, during his inaugural address. During his second State of the Nation Address last July 25, he even expanded the wangwang concept to include officials with a wangwang mentality." TV5's Corporate Communication office will be issuing a statement on the matter later in the day. — LBG, GMA News