Manila traffic enforcer dragged by car now ‘regular employee’

MANILA, Philippines — The injured Manila traffic enforcer who was dragged hanging onto a moving vehicle of a reckless driver was promoted from being a “job order worker” to a “regular employee.”

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Monday announced the promotion of 21-year-old Adrian Lim of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB).

“Tingnan niyo ito, JO, job order. Anim na bulib lang ang sweldo. May isang salbahe, naka-afford bumili ng koste. Pero takot magbayad ng P500, tinakbuhan ‘tong enforcer na ito,” Moreno said during the flag ceremony at the Manila City Hall.

(Look at him, he’s a job order worker. His salary is only P6,000. Then there’s this one rude man, who can afford to buy a car but could not pay a fine of P500. He tried to escape this traffic enforcer.)

“‘Di ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isipan niya bakit isinawalang bahala niya ang kanyang kaligtasan, ang kanyang buhay sa pagtupad ng kanyang tungkulin. Sinampahan ‘yung kotse. Bakit? Gusto niya ipatupad ang batas doon sa violators,” Moreno said.

(I don’t know what entered his mind why he disregarded his own safety and his life to do his duties. He hold on to the vehicle. Why? Because he wanted to enforce the law against the violators.)

Moreno added: “Dahil ikaw ay mabuti sa iyong tungkulin, katulad ng iba, permanent employee ka na.”

(Because you are good at your job, like others, you are now a permanent employee.)

On November 16, Lim flagged down a vehicle – which driver was later identified as Orlando Ricardo Dizon Jr. – in Manila. However, the driver allegedly tried to evade his alleged traffic violation and drove on with Lim hanging on to the driver’s side of the car. A CCTV footage captured a scene where an MTPB traffic enforcer was being dragged and holding on to a moving vehicle.

Lim eventually lost his grip and fell. He was then rushed to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for the treatment of his injuries.

Dizon, meanwhile, was later apprehended and detained at the Manila Police District station.

Edited by KGA