MMDA eyes new tact vs erring motorists

MANILA, Philippines–The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to review its traffic enforcers’ protocol in apprehending erring motorists, after one of its men was shot by a driver whom he accosted for a traffic violation.

“It’s one the ways we’re considering to prevent similar incidents from happening,” said lawyer Emerson Carlos, MMDA assistant general manager for operations. “We’re now  looking at various ways to help our traffic enforcers defend themselves in road-rage incidents.”

Carlos said they are also eyeing the deployment of additional women traffic enforcers.

“We hope that the presence of our lady enforcers on the streets would help prevent usual altercations that often lead to physical clash between hot-headed drivers and male traffic enforcers,” he said.

At around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Larry Fiala, an MMDA traffic enforcer assigned in Cubao, Quezon City, flagged down the driver of a black Nissan Frontier pickup for violating the number coding scheme.

However, the driver, who later turned out to be Edward John Gonzales, hit him in the face and then sped away.

Undeterred, Fiala chased Gonzales on his motorcycle until he caught up with him near Connecticut Street in Mandaluyong City where they started arguing.

According to a witness, at the height of the argument, Gonzales went back inside his vehicle and emerged with a gun. He then shot the victim repeatedly at close range before he casually walked back to his vehicle and drove away.

A taxi driver brought the wounded traffic enforcer to a nearby hospital where he was operated on for multiple gunshot wounds.

Earlier, Tina Velasco, MMDA spokesperson and assistant general manager for planning, said that Chair Francis Tolentino had asked for a review of his predecessor’s proposal to arm traffic enforcers.

But she assured the public the agency will not take drastic measures without at least studying all options thoroughly.