Fighting cocks seized, 90 tickets issued in Navotas road clearing ops

Road clearing units of the Navotas City government on Thursday morning left no stone unturned, carting away with a slew of street obstructions — even fighting cocks were not spared.

Surprised residents scampered at the sight of clearing teams swooping on Mel Lopez Boulevard. Owners of illegally parked vehicles were promptly issued violation tickets.

"Natiketan na noong isang araw, chief (This one was issued a ticket the other day, chief)," an enforcer told his superior while accosting a familiar resident.

"Tiketan mo ulit (Give him another ticket)," his boss replied. A few tried to appeal their case but to no avail.

"Wala silang puso kahit pakiusapan mo, walang puso 'yan. Paalis na eh, wala nga silang five minutes eh (They're heartless. Even if you plead with them, they have no compassion. They don't even give a five-minute lead time)," an angry resident said.

At least 90 motorists were cited for illegal parking, a violation that carries a penalty of P1,000. A heftier fine amounting to P1,500 awaits the owners of at least 14 "unattended" motorcycles that were impounded.

Enforcers also trained their sights on fighting cocks left on pavements and road center islands.

"Kunin itong mga manok (Get those rooster)," hollered the team leader after noticing a few fighting cocks on the sidewalk.

There was little resistance on the part of the owners, but one disgustingly muttered: "Baka katayin niyo 'yan, tutubusin namin 'yan (Don't you dare kill that rooster. We'll pay the fine to claim it)."

They were told to pay P500 at the city hall before they can retrieve the fighting cocks.

"Kapag nahuli namin ng isang beses lang 'yan, unang chance, patutubos 'yan, pero pagka pangalawang beses 'yan, hindi na po namin sinasauli 'yan," said James Lopez, head of the city's Traffic Management Office.

(For the first offense, we will let them claim the fighting cock after paying the fine. But for the second offense, we won't let them retrieve it.)

Lopez said they conduct clearing operations on a daily basis in critical areas to ensure smooth traffic flow.

In the San Juan City, a similar operation was carried out on Thursday afternoon. Drivers of illegally parked vehicles were slapped with violation tickets, sparing no one including the man behind the wheel of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) bearing stickers of the Philippine Coast Guard.

"Marami po kasi sa mga sasakyan dumadaan sa aming mga Mabuhay Lanes kung kaya't dapat talaga manatiling clear ang ating mga kalye," San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said in a phone interview with GMA Integrated News.

(Many vehicles pass through the Mabuhay Lanes in San Juan, so we should really keep our streets clear of obstructions.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News