MANILA, Philippines?From crooked traffic enforcers, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is turning its attention to motorists and warns that bribing traffic enforcers will only land them in jail.

The warning came after the MMDA found 155 drivers trying to wiggle themselves out of traffic violation citation by offering bribes to the apprehending traffic enforcers.

MMDA Chairman Oscar Inocentes said the legal service of the MMDA has charged the motorists with violations of Article 212 or Corruption of Public Officials in various prosecutor?s offices in Metro Manila.

Motorists found guilty face up to six years imprisonment, the same penalty imposed on any public officer who accepts bribes while performing official duties.

?Offering bribes to our traffic enforcers is a serious criminal act and is penalized under the Revised Penal Code. Your P10 or P20 bribe will cause you even more serious trouble and inconvenience than dutifully settling your traffic fines in the proper payment centers,? Inocentes, a retired trial court judge, said in a statement.

Legal Service chief Rochelle Macapali said they have gathered evidence against erring motorists and will submit it in court during the preliminary hearings.

The evidence includes the bribe money given by the respondent-motorists, some of whom offered as low as P20 to as much as P200, she said.

The traffic enforcers who were offered bribes acted as complainants in those case and were being assisted by the MMDA lawyers.

?Walang mangongotong kung walang magbibigay (There would be no mulcting if nobody offers money). We can never progress in our anti-corruption drive if we ourselves are the ones who offer bribes,? Inocentes said.