Philippine Ambulance Incident Leads to Patient's Death and Official's Dismissal

Feb 19, 2026

64 min

Feb 19, 2026 11:30

Cancer patient dies after ambulance stopped in Philippine busway; official in-charge fired

## Ambulance Blocked on EDSA Busway

A stage 4 cancer patient in the Philippines died after an ambulance carrying them was stopped from using a dedicated bus lane. The incident occurred on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), a major highway known for heavy traffic, as the patient was en route to a 6am medical appointment.

## Official Dismissed

Following the incident, the acting Department of Transportation (DOTr) secretary, Giovanni Lopez, dismissed Rayson Dela Torre, the head of the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation's special operations group. The decision came after public outrage over the incident.

## Policy Clarification

The DOTr clarified that all on-duty ambulances are allowed to use the EDSA busway, regardless of the patient's condition. This clarification contradicts Dela Torre's previous statement that only critical emergencies justified the use of the busway.

## Reorientation for Officers

In response to the incident, the DOTr has ordered a reorientation for officers assigned to the busway to ensure proper implementation of policies. The department expressed sympathy to the patient's family and emphasized the importance of compassionate enforcement of transport policies.

## Public Reaction

The incident has sparked criticism from the public, who have called for more sensitivity in handling medical transport cases. Many questioned the judgment of the enforcement officers involved.

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