METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicolas Torre III has taken a voluntary one-month leave of absence effective September 8, following an official investigation into traffic and license plate violations involving his personal vehicle.
The move comes after a video went viral showing a private Toyota Fortuner passing through the restricted EDSA Busway.
The vehicle was illegally outfitted with official MMDA body markings, a logo, a siren, and a blinker.
Subsequent verification by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) revealed that the SUV was privately registered and was utilizing a license plate assigned to a separate MMDA utility vehicle.
Torre publicly admitted to being inside the vehicle during the incident and acknowledged installing the agency markings and emergency equipment himself.
Expressing regret over the breach, Torre issued an apology for the disappointment caused and surrendered the vehicle to the LTO Central Office in Quezon City.
In an official statement, MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes confirmed accepting Torre’s voluntary leave, emphasizing that it allows the General Manager time to reflect while maintaining full confidence in his operational work.
Artes reiterated that the agency fully respects the proceedings and is leaving the investigation entirely to the LTO.
He stressed that no public official, regardless of rank or stature, is exempt from traffic regulations, assuring the public that MMDA’s daily operations and mandate enforcement remain unhampered.
Addressing the infractions, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao announced the revocation of the driver’s license belonging to Torre’s assigned driver.
The LTO cited multiple severe violations, including plate misuse, misrepresentation, and repeated traffic breaches across two separate recorded incidents.
The impounded SUV remains in LTO custody, where authorities have ordered the complete stripping of all unauthorized MMDA logos and emergency devices.
Reaffirming the administration’s strict stance, Lacanilao warned that government affiliation will not shield anyone from traffic law enforcement, reminding public officials to lead by example on the road.
