Axed MMDA enforcer caught manning traffic

This traffic enforcer must have loved his job so much, he still manned traffic even after he was dismissed from service.

A former traffic enforcer of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) was arrested after he was caught manning traffic along EDSA in Quezon City Wednesday night.

Loreto Goyena, 47, of De Guzman, Marikina City, was in full uniform and holding a traffic citation ticket booklet when he was collared by operatives from the Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG)-MMDA on EDSA-Aurora Boulevard.

Goyena, dismissed from service last October, was allegedly waiting to pounce on motorists who commit a traffic violation. His alleged cohorts, identified as a certain Lahir and one Abuda, escaped during a melee as the MMDA TEG monitoring personnel tried to arrest them.

TEG chief Bobby Esquivel said he was informed of the activities of the three men, who were allegedly operating in the vicinity of a mall along North EDSA.

TEG said some traffic enforcers are under investigation due to complaints of wrongdoings of MMDA officials and employees reported by concerned citizens through the agency’s I-text Mo Kay BF project.

A check made with the MMDA’s administrative department showed that Goyena has availed himself of separation benefits from the agency, while Lahir has long been dismissed from the MMDA. Abuda is reportedly the one still active in service.

Barroga said Abuda is a contractual employee and belongs to the 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. work shift. Reports said Abuda has been spotted several times manning traffic on EDSA beyond his prescribed working hours.

Esquivel vowed to continue cleansing the ranks of traffic enforcers by instituting reforms which, he said, “would allow no room for dishonest, inept and misfits in the agency.”