Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte apologized on Monday after Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel stopped the traffic at the corner of Katipunan Avenue and Aurora Boulevard to make way for her team, which she said was done without their knowledge.
Belmonte said she and her staff traveled to Katipunan Avenue after attending the ribbon cutting of a newly opened coffee shop.
“But without our knowledge, the MMDA traffic enforcer stopped the flow of traffic at Katipunan corner Aurora Boulevard so we could get past as their security protocol,” Belmonte said in a statement in Filipino.
“Though my staff signaled that this should not have happened, this incident caused inconvenience to other motorists.”
“We do not tolerate this action and we apologize for it,” she added.
“I also want to emphasize that the protocol should be for the sake of all road users, regardless of their status in our society.”
Recently, a Quezon City Police District (QCPD) officer also stopped traffic on Commonwealth Avenue for a certain VIP convoy. That move got some angry reactions as the convoy was rumored to have been for Vice President Sara Duterte. Her office denied th rumor. The police officer was then relieved.
Belmonte defended the police officer, saying the officer was only following orders. The officer was reinstated after the mayor’s appeal to the QCPD.