MMDA: Disputes with HPG normal

After a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcer accused two Highway Patrol Group (HPG) officers of mauling him last week, MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino tried to smooth over the incident on Sunday, saying that misunderstandings between the two groups were normal due to their different training.

He stressed, however, that incidents of violence should never break out among the personnel assigned to direct traffic on Edsa while they were on duty.

“[That] is normal but the Technical Working Group on Edsa traffic has [agreed] that a similar incident should not happen again,” Tolentino said.

During the MMDA’s Sunday radio program, Tolentino noted that the HPG and MMDA were still working on strengthening their relationship.

According to him, an “instant chemistry” between the two groups was not to be expected due to the differences in their training.

Last week, MMDA traffic auxiliary Leon Trinidad claimed that two HPG officers—Senior Insp. Joel Maranion and SPO2 Norman Interino—beat him up on Tuesday after he failed to give them the driver’s license of Mark Nicolas who was earlier cited for a traffic violation.

All three men were assigned to direct traffic near the intersection of Quezon Avenue and Edsa in Quezon City.

Trinidad claimed that the two HPG personnel had insisted that he was keeping Nicolas’ license although he denied it.

“They were very angry and even threatened me,” he said in his statement to the MMDA Traffic Discipline Office.

He added that Interino hit him in the chest with a helmet while Maranion kicked him and hit him with a handheld radio.

HPG director Chief Supt. Arnold Gunnacao announced after the incident that he had recalled the two men from traffic duty on Edsa to give way to an investigation. He said that although the two had admitted confronting Trinidad, they denied beating him up.

“No one mauled anyone. Interino said he only shoved a helmet at Trinidad’s chest,” Gunnacao explained.

According to the HPG chief, his men confronted Trinidad because they “felt insulted” after they learned that the MMDA enforcer had let off the hook three drivers apprehended earlier by the HPG.

To this, Tolentino said that both agencies were investigating the matter and had vowed to prevent similar incidents.

He also expressed hope that the working relationship between the MMDA and HPG would soon normalize.

MMDA Traffic Discipline Office head Cris Saruca told the Inquirer that their agency had filed an administrative complaint for grave misconduct in the HPG against the two officers.

But despite the “isolated incident,” Saruca pointed to the “great team-up” between the MMDA and HPG in managing traffic on Edsa.

This was seconded by Tolentino who said that since the HPG took over as the lead traffic agency on Edsa with the MMDA serving as backup, there has been a “great improvement” on the major thoroughfare and better discipline among motorists.