Traffic enforcer, trisikad driver tangle over traffic violation

CEBU, Philippines - A traffic enforcer of Talisay City allegedly beat a trisikad driver who reportedly challenged him to a fistfight after being warned about a traffic violation yesterday morning in barangay Tabunok.

Traffic enforcer Sherwin Abaquita alleged trisikad driver Victor Meloren, 21, a resident of barangay Lagtang of the same city, tried to grab a knife and almost succeeded in snatching the service firearm of a security guard inside the old public market.

The incident happened while the Land Transportation Office's Task Force Alpha and the City of Talisay-Traffic Operations and Development Authority (CT-TODA) were ridding the area under the congested Tabunok flyover of tricycles.

For his part, Meloren told reporters his trisikad was parked along the road when Abaquita approached him and told him to leave the area.

He claimed he was about to do so when the traffic enforcer pulled his trisikad and then assaulted him.

Meloren admitted he tried to grab the service firearm of security guard Jake Urdaneta when the traffic enforcer brought him inside the closed Tabunok Public Market while waiting for the police to come.

Urdaneta said when Meloren exchanged unpleasant words with the traffic enforcer who took him inside the premises of the market, he tried to pacify them by telling Meloren to sit in a corner while waiting for a police car to arrive.

The trisikad driver did not heed the suggestion but instead went for Urdaneta's gun.

The security guard caught Meloren's hand and squeezed it.

Meanwhile, Tronando Lastimosa, vice chairman of CT-TODA, said he heard Meloren challenge Abaquita to a fistfight at the height of their confrontation.

Then and there, Lastimosa ordered Abaquita to arrest him.

But before Abaquita could do so, Meloren allegedly rushed to a nearby stall and attempted to grab a knife owned by a vendor.

Gerard Lariego, chief of the traffic enforcers, grabbed Meloren and brought him inside the old public market.

Lastimosa said police is set to file a direct assault charge against Meloren, who is now detained at the Talisay City Police Station. - THE FREEMAN