PNP gets back traffic enforcement

Members of the 3,000 strong Traffic Operations Center (TOC) of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) are reportedly demoralized over the recent decision to return traffic enforcement to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

TOC officials as well as traffic enforcers are concerned about their roles under the present set-up as ordered by MMDA chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr.

Abalos recently ordered the transfer of traffic enforcement from the TOC to the local PNP as part of the streamlining of the MMDA.

Under the set-up, the chiefs of police of the 17 local government units in Metro Manila are now in full control of traffic enforcement in their respective areas.

The actual supervision, however, remains with the PNP Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) under Senior Superintendent Vicente Raval.

Disgruntled TOC officials disclosed that their enforcers have now been relegated to mere sidekicks of their policemen counterparts.

One of the officials who requested anonymity said that the traffic situation in Metro Manila has worsened since the new scheme was implemented because the TOC core group has been relegated to the sidelines.

The TOC official noted that his men are now taking orders from TEG members. With the withdrawal of authority, the TOC has also lost control of its traffic equipment, particularly the motorcycles, hand-held radios and patrol cars.

Abalos said that the MMDA still has a significant role in traffic management since the MMDA chairman retains overall control and jurisdiction over traffic in the metropolis.

Meanwhile, acting Philippine National Police chief, Deputy Director General Leandro Mendoza, ordered the fielding yesterday of the Intelligence Group (IG) of the PNP along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila to go after and arrest mulcting traffic policemen and traffic enforcers of the MMDA.

Determined to restore order along major thoroughfares of Metro Manila, Mendoza, likewise, tasked the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) to join forces with IG operatives in effecting the arrest of police and MMDA scalawags.

"These people are continuously giving the PNP a bad name and it’s about time to conduct an honest to goodness campaign to rid or ease them out of Metro Manila streets," Mendoza said.

Immediately after the Mendoza’s directive yesterday morning, IG operatives, who used to handle cases involving national security, went to work and easily arrested two MMDA traffic enforcers along Edsa.

The traffic enforcers were identified Renato Mulano and Rudy Casimiro. IG and SAF operatives handcuffed the two while receiving bribe money from a driver they had flagged down.

"Cases of robbery and intimidation will be filed against the two," Chief Superintendent Romulo Sales, PNP-IG, said.

During the past PNP administration, then PNP chief Director General Panfilo Lacson managed to instill fear among street mulcters when he deployed PAOCTF agents on major thoroughfares and arrested dozens of traffic enforcers.

However, records show that not one of the charges filed against the arrested mulcters during Lacson’s term prospered in court. They, however, were administratively punished.