MMDA halts operations of own anti-jaywalking unit for ‘duping’ violators

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia presents a fake receipt allegedly issued by a personnel of the agency’s anti-jaywalking unit during a press conference on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. Behind Garcia is National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Agent Atty. Elizardo Beltran. Katrina Hallare/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday suspended the operations of its Anti-Jaywalking Unit after it uncovered an anomalous scheme perpetrated by its personnel.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia revealed in a press conference the decision to stop the Anti-Jaywalking Unit’s operations as well the modus of three of its 48 members who use fake receipts to dupe pedestrians settling their violation.

Garcia identified the three alleged erring MMDA Anti-Jaywalking Unit staff as Joanna Eclarinal, Jonathan Natividad, and Frederick Arucan.

Eclarinal is currently detained at the Makati Police Station while the other two are still at large, Garcia said. 

Garcia also asked the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the alleged corruption in the MMDA Anti-Jaywalking Unit.

“Di natin alam kung ‘yung 48 [members]  na ‘yan, magkakasabwat ba,” Garcia noted.

“Meron isang [violator] nagbayad, ang nangyari nagbayad siya sa opisina nitong si Joanna (Eclarinal), binigyan ng resibo tapos dito nakitang peke,” Garcia said about how the irregularity was discovered, adding that this incident happened only on Monday. 

“Ngayon ang clearance, akala niya sa baba, bumaba sa cashier. Pagbaba doon, pinakita niya ‘yung resibo, kailangan niya ng clearance. Sabi ng cashier namin ‘Sandali, peke ‘yan’,” Garcia added. 

Garcia, at this point, reminded the public to only clear their jaywalking and littering fines at the MMDA Cashier’s Office located at the agency building’s sixth floor.

Garcia said MMDA will file charges of falsification of documents and syndicated estafa against Eclarinal, Natividad, and Arucan. /kga