Despite controversy, Inton still traffic czar, says Belmonte | Inquirer News

Despite controversy, Inton still traffic czar, says Belmonte

04:06 AM October 02, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Tuesday that she was not accepting city traffic czar Ariel Inton’s resignation despite the controversy that erupted after he smashed the window of a parked car during a road clearing operation last week.

“I filed my resignation because I don’t want the mayor to be dragged into this,” said Inton, the head of the city’s Task Force for Transport and Traffic Management, in an interview.

A video uploaded online by the traffic management office showed him smashing the window of a 1990 Nissan Maxima. The car had reportedly been parking on the sidewalk on Timog Avenue for almost two years.

Article continues after this advertisement

Under a 2004 city ordinance that allowed local authorities to confiscate illegally parked vehicles, these cars were already considered “garbage” from a legal standpoint, Inton said.

FEATURED STORIES

In a radio interview, the car owner said he had filed a carjacking complaint against Inton, aside from administrative charges for abuse of authority in the Office of the Ombudsman.

Inton issued a public apology last week, saying he “overdid it” due to pressure to meet the deadline set by the Department of the Interior and Local Government for mayors to clear roads and sidewalks of all obstructions.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Sometimes we commit lapses, and this is one of them,” he said. —Mariejo S. Ramos

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Ariel Inton, Joy Belmonte

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.