METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino has ordered an investigation into a dispute among his consultants that allegedly almost led to a shooting last Wednesday.

?We will investigate the matter,? MMDA spokesperson Yves Gonzales said in a text message to Inquirer.

But an MMDA officer denied that there was a shooting involved, adding that the matter had been settled.

According to a source, the shooting nearly transpired following a verbal altercation between Ret. Gen. Danilo Gaoiran, supervising consultant at the MMDA?s Traffic and Transport Management Office (TTMO) and a certain Policarpio, who was assigned at the office of another MMDA consultant, Roberto ?Bobby? Esquivel.

Gaoiran allegedly confronted Policarpio over the use of vehicles impounded by the agency, the source said.

At the height of the argument, Gaoiran allegedly punched Policarpio in the chest, prompting another close aide of Esquivel to come to Policarpio?s aid by drawing his gun and poking it at Gaoiran, the source added. The two were pacified only when cooler heads interfered.

But Ret. Col. Ed Bayangos, another TTMO consultant who admitted he was around during the ?confrontation? between Gaoiran and Policarpio, said no gun-toting nor physical violence transpired.

?Emotions were high, voices were raised, that?s all. The information that reached you was exaggerated,? he said.

Bayangos also explained that Gaoiran confronted Policarpio not over impounded vehicles but over a night patrol vehicle that Esquivel?s office had reportedly borrowed from TTMO.

?We have been using the mobile night patrol for our operations, but the vehicle had been with them for several days already, so General Gaoiran was asking them to return it,? he said.

?The dispute is over. Maybe it was just a misunderstanding. All?s well now,? Bayangos added.