3 MMDA traffic enforcers face dismissal for bribery

MANILA, Philippines , Philippines - Three traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) are facing dismissal after they were caught allegedly receiving bribe money from bus drivers along Edsa. In a statement, MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said he has ordered the arrest of Ricky Cureg, Giovani Molina, and Philip Roberto – all members of the Epifanio Delos Santos (Edsa) Traffic Enforcement Unit. Fernando also ordered the immediate dismissal from service of the three erring traffic enforcers, pointing out that the MMDA will never tolerate illegal activities that “only serve to taint the good image the agency has painstakingly earned." “Extorting or receiving bribe money is a very serious offense that deserves no amount of leniency. The MMDA has been in the forefront of promoting honesty and hard work in government service, so we have no room for this kind of traffic enforcers," he said. The arrests of Cureg, Molina, and Roberto stemmed from reports of extortion activities at the service road of Edsa-Shaw Boulevard or the “Crossing Ibabaw" intersection. According to PO2 Rizal Pascual, the three traffic enforcers were caught on camera receiving P20 from each passenger bus as “fee" for being allowed to stay much longer at the service road to pick up passengers. The collection racket has been blamed for the perennial traffic jam at the service road of EDSA-Shaw Boulevard as buses have been allowed to stay longer and block the intersection. In separate cases, the MMDA-Legal Service is also set to summon three more traffic enforcers after they were caught on surveillance cameras receiving money from PUV drivers along Marcos Highway and on Santolan Road near SM Marikina. Legal Service chief Emmanuel De Castro said administrative charges have been filed against Bernardo Laroco, Antonio Ibanez, and Mario Bumagat – all permanent employees assigned to the Eastern Traffic District of the MMDA’s Traffic Operations Center. “We will never stop going after these mulcting personnel because they paint a bad image of the agency. We will never tolerate these illegal activities," said De Castro. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV