MMDA dismisses traffic enforcer for forging taxi driver's signature

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has dismissed a traffic enforcer for forging a taxi driver's signature in 2011.

In a press statement, the MMDA, through its Legal and Legislative Affairs Staff, axed Traffic Aide 1 Ferdinand Marcelino for submitting a traffic violation receipt (TVR) with a forged signature of the complainant, Aldrin Arroyo, to the agency's redemption center.

MMDA chairman Danilo Lim emphasized that the agency will not tolerate the actions of Marcelino, vowing to eradicate the agency of erring traffic enforcers.

“We will not tolerate such wrong doings and anomalies in the agency. We should all be a partner for change, and change for the better. We will continue with our efforts in ridding the agency of 'bad eggs' with the help of our public,” Lim said.

Based on MMDA records, Marcelino flagged down Arroyo who was at the time driving his taxi cab along EDSA-Guadalupe around 8:20 a.m. on April 29, 2011,  for violating the yellow lane policy.

Marcelino then asked the driver for his license  and asked him why his  taxi meter was not in use.

Arroyo said he explained that he has a pending application to operate a GT Express Service, but that the traffic enforcer insisted that he was out of line.

In order to prove his claim, Arroyo showed him a copy of a memorandum circular from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board which Marcelino to support his claim but which document Marcelino reportedly disregarded.

Arroyo also called the head of his transport group to explain the situation to Marcelino's superior.

The traffic enforcer's superior then ruled for Marcelino to let Arroyo go and return his license. Marcelino in turn said he will cancel the TVR that was supposed to issue to Arroyo.

Arroyo, however, found out that Marcelino did not cancel the TVR when he went to the MMDA office on April 30. He later filed a complaint against Marcelino at the MMDA's Traffic Discipline Office.

The resolution of the Falsification of Official Document case against Marcelino said that "there [is] indeed a great discrepancy in the signature of Arroyo as appearing in the TVR… and in his complaint sheet signed on the same day." —ALG/KVD, GMA News