MMDA chief promptly sacks 3 mulcting traffic men

MANILA, Philippines - Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino sacked three of the agency's traffic enforcers hours after they were caught extorting money from motorists in Makati City before dawn Thursday.

Tolentino identified the three sacked MMDA personnel as Traffic Constables Bryan Berganio, Andy Abdul and Paul Michael Romero.

He said that the MMDA personnel are facing summary dismissal from the service. He said that the three traffic enforcers were caught by a Metrobase roving staff committing extortion at the Magallanes u-turn slot at around 3:00 a.m. Thursday.

Tolentino said that it turned out that the three were not on official duty and Magallanes was not in their area of responsibility.

Berganio’s shift is from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and assigned at EDSA segment 4, while Abdul and Romero are both from the anti-jaywalking unit belonging to the 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. shift.

The three employees were the same persons spotted by traffic constable Tristan Neneria on November 14 allegedly receiving bribes from two truck drivers at the same area.

“We will not tolerate this wrongdoing among our ranks and let this serve as a warning to all our erring employees,” Tolentino said.

According to the MMDA chief, appropriate criminal charges will be filed subsequently against the three employees.

“We will give them the right to defend themselves with lawyers of their own choice,” Tolentino said.

On Thursday, Tolentino also signed the termination order for four traffic personnel for grave misconduct.

Two more traffic constables were also suspended for eight months and one day, also for grave misconduct.