2 MMDA Traffic Enforcers Put Under Preventive Suspension for Extortion
MMDA TRAFFIC ENFORCERS – two traffic men placed under preventive suspension over video of extortion that went viral on social media.
The law enforcers of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have been suspended from the agency’s Traffic Discipline Office (TDO) by the MMDA Chair Benhur Abalos and pending investigation after allegedly involved in extortion.
In a Facebook post on April 23, a netizen Miriel Custodio called out the MMDA for apprehending her for a suspected traffic violation along A. Bonifacio Avenue in Balintawak, Quezon City. Custodio said she was fined P2,000 for reckless driving and another P5,000 for distracted driving after being caught using her phone for navigation.
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She said that the traffic cops requested P1,000 in return for the charges being dropped. Edmon Belleca and Christian Malemit were identified by the MMDA as the traffic enforcers.
When the incident was brought to the attention of the MMDA’s head, Abalos, he sent a notice to prosecute the traffic cops. They were put on a 90-day preventive suspension pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of extortion, gross misconduct, and other offences that could result in dismissal from the service.
“Upon learning of the incident, I immediately ordered our TDO and Legal Department to conduct a thorough investigation,” Abalos said. “I am very angry with what they did, they have besmirched the name of the agency. However, administrative procedures require that they be given due process.”
They have been put on preventive suspension, according to the MMDA chief, due to the seriousness of the crime and the facts against them. Abalos stressed that the organization does not and would never tolerate such actions.
The MMDA leader expresses his displeasure with the aforementioned enforcers’ illegal activities. Furthermore, the MMDA chief urged motorists and the general public to report any shady behavior among MMDA employees so that appropriate action could be taken.
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