Erap: One-strike police vs. lazy, corrupt traffic enforcers

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Sunday announced that he will implement a “one-strike” policy against the local government's traffic enforcers who are habitual absentees or engaged in illegal activities.

As part of the new policy, Estrada said he would be fielding additional "undercover agents" in the streets against corrupt and lazy Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) personnel.

“They would be tasked to go around and check if the traffic enforcers are in their posts or committing unlawful actions. This way we could easily identify, gather evidence, and dismiss them,” Estrada said in a statement.

On November 28, Estrada terminated the job contracts of 690 members of the MTPB after being swamped with complaints from motorists over alleged extortion.

They were temporarily replaced by the Manila Police District-Traffic Enforcement Unit (MPD-TEU) and other traffic auxiliary units.

To fill up the vacated slots, the MPD is retraining the first batch of 92 new law enforcers whom Estrada assured would be more disciplined, competent, and incorruptible.

Superintendent Lucile Faycho, chief of the MPD-TEU, said a training and refresher course have been launched, focusing on developing discipline, proper decorum and posture, and physical fitness.

They also have classroom lectures about basic road accident investigation, rescue and first aid, and basic self defense techniques.

MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza, meanwhile, said more inspectors will be hired to boost the bureau's Inspectorate Unit.

“Our inspectors have been roaming around checking on the traffic enforcers. We’ve found out that many traffic enforcers have not been reporting to their posts, only reporting during paydays. We list them as ‘missing in action,’” Alcoreza said.

He said the inspectors go around in civilian clothes, sometimes posing as motorists and pedestrians to catch and report unscrupulous traffic enforcers.

“Hindi sila nakikilala ng mga MTPB enforcers, naka-sibilyan, nagro-rotation,” Alcoreza said, adding that through their reports, they were able to assess the performance of the traffic personnel. —Mark Merueñas/ALG, GMA News