The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) today warned the public against unscrupulous persons posing as legitimate traffic enforcers to extort money following the complaint of a victimized motorist.
Jojo Garcia, Acting MMDA General Manager, said a bogus traffic enforcer issued fake traffic violation to a motorist he apprehended for reckless driving violation along Edsa.
The motorist, a resident of Mandaluyong City, was supposed to redeem yesterday the driver’s license confiscated from him by the supposed on-duty traffic enforcer.
However, he was shocked upon learning that the issued traffic violation ticket was fake.
“The agency does not have the motorist’s driver’s license. The person who apprehended him was not a legitimate traffic enforcer of the agency,” said Garcia.
In his complaint, the motorist claimed he did not doubt since the traffic enforcer was wearing the agency’s uniform.
Garcia said MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim has ordered his men to probe the matter.
To identify a legitimate traffic enforcer, Garcia urged motorists to ask for the traffic enforcer’s mission order, a document indicating official functions, place of assignment and time of duty.
“It is the responsibility of the traffic enforcer to carry his mission order at all times. If he does not bear his mission order, he is unauthorized,” said Garcia.
Meanwhile, Garcia reminded that a traffic enforcer cannot just confiscate driver’s license for a traffic violation except when the motorist is involved in a road crash.
Garcia also urged the public to report dubious traffic enforcers who taint the image of the agency.
“Motorists have the right to ask for the mission order, signed by their traffic sector heads,” he stressed.
Since Lim assumed office, Garcia said the agency had dismissed a number of traffic enforcers involved in illegal and corrupt practices.
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