Acting Pasay mayor accused of abusing authority

Four traffic enforcers of the Pasay Traffic Management Office filed a complaint of grave abuse of authority against acting Pasay City Mayor Allan Panaligan who allegedly ordered their arrest after they recently impounded a bus illegaly parked along EDSA in Pasay City.

Aside from grave abuse of authority, Panaligan — together with seven other policemen led by Panaligan’s relative, Insp. Rodolfo Panaligan — were charged with illegal arrest, intimidation and coercion, violation of City Ordinance 2916 and violation of anti-graft and corrupt practices before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Traffic enforcers Ramil Co, Salvador Abarquez, Nardo Tayco and Hilario Pepito said that on the afternoon of October 28, they impounded a Celyrosa Bus Liner that was illegally parked along EDSA Extension.

The bus was causing a traffic jam in Pasay Rotonda as it waited for passengers.

They also found that the bus driver has only an expired temporary operator’s permit issued by the Land Transportation Office.

In their two-page complaint sheet, they alleged that the driver refused to cooperate and instead called someone on his cellphone.

A police car from the Pasay City Hall detachment arrived. On board the vehicle were Senior Police Officer 3 Danilo Calma, SPO2 Jojo Polanco and four other officers in civilian clothes.

While holding onto his gun, Polanco said Panaligan wanted Co and his colleagues arrested and the traffic enforcers then were forced to come with them to city hall.

The complainants said the policemen led by their detachment commander, Insp. Panaligan, forced them to release the bus and the driver.

Efforts to reach Panaligan for his comment were unsuccessful because his mobile phone was off.