MANILA – Chairman Danilo Lim of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday warned that his agency will not tolerate any traffic rule violation, no matter how minor or even if it is committed by offenders in government service.
“We will protect the welfare and safety of our traffic constables who are only doing their jobs on the road,” Lim said, five MMDA traffic constables flagged down and cited for over-speeding the driver of a government vehicle Wednesday morning on Macapagal Blvd. in Parañaque City.
In a sworn statement, MMDA Traffic Constable Almanabo Dayao said that he, along with four other colleagues, flagged a government vehicle sporting license plate SHR-981 on the southbound lane of Macapagal Blvd. at around 10:02 a.m. exceeding the speed limit.
Dayao said the vehicle was going 70 kilometers per hour, beyond the 60 kph limit for the thoroughfare.
Dayao said he and his colleagues approached the driver of the vehicle and informed him of his violation.
But when Dayao tried to examine the offender’s driver’s license, the driver hinted to him that they were in a hurry and on the way to the airport.
The driver’s male companion suddenly confronted the traffic constables, accusing the MMDA personnel of making up the traffic violation.
Dayao and his colleagues kept their cool despite the man’s cocky and arrogant attitude.
When he again tried asking for the license, Dayao said the driver refused, which prompted him to warn the occupants of the vehicle that he would be compelled to confiscate vehicle’s license plate.
At this point, the driver closed the car windows and tried to speed away, but Dayao and other traffic enforcers blocked the vehicle’s path.
Dayao said a male companion of the driver opened the door and started recording a video using his mobile phone while accusing the traffic enforcers of extorting money from them. The traffic enforcer said the driver’s female companion tried to intervene and offered to settle the situation amicably.
Dayao said the man taking the video then dared them to detach one of the car’s license plate, which they did.
The man continued to curse and challenge them to a brawl before speeding off with the car with his two companions after seeing a police patrol car approaching.
The MMDA Chairman said the agency will not let such incidents go so casually, to send a message that traffic personnel should not be disrespected by erring motorists cited for road infractions.
“We are also studying the filing of additional charges for provoking our personnel to a fistfight,” Lim said.