Man handcuffs self to tow truck cable during MMDA’s towing ops 

A man who identified himself as a former cop handcuffed himself to the tow truck’s cable in a bid to save his AUV from the towing operations of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel on Friday morning. 

According to Oscar Oida’s report on “24 Oras,” the man asserted that the MMDA has no right to conduct operations along Crispulo Street in North Caloocan as the said area is within a private subdivision. 

“Pakita niyo muna yung basis ng jurisdiction niyo dito. Ito ba ay paga-ari na ng city hall ‘to? Unang-una, wala ngang pasabi ang barangay,” he told the MMDA personnel. 

(Please show me proof of your jurisdiction in this place. Is this already owned by the city hall? First of all, we did not receive any notice from the barangay.) 

But other residents also voiced the same concern. 

“Dito ako pinanganak. Alam ko na ito ay private. Sabi ko pakita sa amin kung ito ay na-turnover sa city government or local government,” another resident said. 

(I was born here so I’m aware that this is private. I’ve been telling you to show us proof that this was already turned over to the city government or to the local government.) 

For its part, the MMDA maintained that the stretch of Crispulo Street is a public road. 

“Itong kahabaan ng kalsadang ito, hindi po ito private. If it’s a private road, unang-una, dapat gated po ito. It is turned into an alternate route,” said MMDA Special Operations Group-Strike Force head Gabriel Go. 

(The whole stretch is not private. If it’s a private road, then this should be gated. It was turned into an alternate route.) 

The MMDA added that it has received complaints via the Presidential Hotline of illegal parking in the said area. 

The man eventually removed the handcuffs after a discussion with the MMDA personnel. However, he was still issued a ticket. 

The MMDA also conducted towing operations in Camarin Road, which is also in North Caloocan. 

Further, the MMDA explained that it has to clear Crispulo Street and Camarin Road because they serve as alternate routes for those affected by the construction of MRT-7, particularly those coming from Quirino Highway. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News