Palace: Go easy on plan to arm aides

The proposal to arm Metro Manila’s traffic aides must be studied carefully, Malacañang said on Saturday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte made the statement in connection with suggestions that traffic enforcers should be armed after one of them was shot on Thursday by a motorist he had tried to apprehend for a traffic violation.

“Perhaps there should be a thorough study, a calm review of what happened. We can’t say that it’s the same case for all traffic enforcers. Is there really a need, are there funds available, and do they have the capability to be responsible wielders of guns?” Valte said in an interview over state-run radio dzRB.

Told that a survey by a television news program showed that most respondents didn’t want traffic enforcers to have guns, Valte said, “That’s what the people said. That should be considered because there is also the safety aspect.”

Motorist Edward John Gonzales reportedly shot and wounded Metro Manila Development Authority traffic enforcer Larry Fiala after the latter apprehended Gonzales for violation of the number coding regulation.

Gonzales reportedly punched Fiala and fled. Fiala chased him on his motorbike and after he caught up with Gonzales, the latter allegedly shot him four times. Fiala is recovering in a hospital.