The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) blamed the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the traffic jam during the EDSA Anniversary celebration on February 25. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino pinned down PNP for the closure of the EDSA’s northbound lanes from Shaw Boulevard to Santolan Avenue on Wednesday.
According to the MMDA Chairman, the order to close EDSA from Shaw Boulevard to Santolan came from PNP because of security reasons for those attending the “People Power” celebration.
The MMDA Chairman told reporters, that the police’s security procedures were the main reason of EDSA’s closure even noting that the police arrested a man at the Ortigas footbridge at about 3:00 PM on Wednesday for carrying a gun. Police officers also discovered an abandoned black bag near the EDSA Shrine.
The closure of EDSA and the strict security measures have prevented a security concern from not happening during Wednesday’s EDSA People Power Celebration.
Chairman Tolentino noted that there were some security concern last Wednesday that were not present during the past People Power celebration. The PNP even wanted the lanes closed until midnight Wednesedy and the lanes were reopened by the MMDA at around 3:29 PM.
The MMDA got the public flak online over the EDSA traffic jam, but according to Chairman Tolentino, once the netizens will realize the security reasons they will surely understand the MMDA.
Tolentino said the MMDA is taking the public flak over the EDSA lanes closure in stride. The MMDA Chairman was quoted as saying: “Okay lang yun. Ok lang yun. Kasi kung mare-realize nila yung security reasons palagay ko mauunawaan nila yun. Sa nagba-bash, naunawaan ko kayo pero sorry dun sa nangyari kahapon. Sana maunawana niyo rin kami na prayoridad ay yung security concerns. Peace and order pa rin,” Tolentino said.
