Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Monday commended two honest traffic enforcers from the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) for rejecting bribe money from a traffic violator.
Domagoso presented MTPB enforcers Abel Abesamis and Edmundo Gatbunton, Jr. during the city's flag raising ceremony.
"Ako po ay na-inspire na patuloy na mag-inam at maging mabuti sapagkat nakakatuwang isipin na ang ating mga kasama at mga kawani ng pamahalaang lungsod ay unti-unti ring nagbabagong puri, nagbibigay ng dignidad sa kanila at dangal sa ahensya na kanilang kinabibilangan (I was inspired to do better because it makes me happy to think that our fellow workers in the city government are changing for the better, giving dignity to themselves, and honor to the agency that they belong to)," he said.
"Sigurado ako proud na proud ang mga anak niyo. (I'm sure your children are very proud of you). You just made them proud, na ang tatay nila, kahit maliit ang sahod, naging tapat, hindi nagpatukso (that their fathers, even though their salaries are small, were honest and were not tempted)," Domagoso said.
According to a report by the Manila Public Information Office (MPIO), Abesamis and Gatbunton flagged a certain Wayva Ann Moya-Allanigue for driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street towards C.M. Recto Avenue on August 21.
Out of fear, Moya-Allanigue said she took out P500 from her wallet and tried to give it to the traffic enforcers to let her go.
"Humugot ako sa wallet ko. Siguro nasa P500 'yon. Hindi ko na alam. Kabado ako. Ngayon lang ako susubok maglagay. Kasi 'yun ang laging payo, lagyan nalang (I took out money from my wallet. Maybe that was around P500. I don't know. I was nervous. This was the first time I tried to bribe an enforcer. Because that's what I was always told, just bribe them)," she told the MPIO.
"Nakamulatan ko na kasi yung mga enforcer na mahilig mangotong (I have always known that traffic enforcers are prone to extortion)," she added.
However, even if she, Abesamis, and Gatbunton were the only ones in the area at the time, the MTPB enforcers kept refusing her money.
"Ma'am hindi po, bawal po. Sabi po ni Mayor, huwag po dudungisan ang dignidad para sa kaunting pera (Ma'am, no, that's not allowed. Mayor told us not to stain our dignity just for a bit of money)," Abesamis reportedly said.
The MTPB enforcers decided to let Moya-Allanigue off with a warning. They even helped her in picking up groceries as it was raining hard then and she came all the way from Cavite.
Domagoso expressed hope that the MTPB slowly continues to change its image from a bureau full of extortionists to efficient and honest workers.
The local chief executive has been cracking down on scalawag traffic enforcers since the start of his administration and has since sacked over 50 MTPB enforcers.
"Paugungin po natin sa buong Maynila na wala nang puwang ang pangongotong. May gobyerno na po tayo (Let it be known in the entire city that there is no room for extortion here. We have a government that works for them)," he said.
"May nakatingin man o wala, maging tapat tayo sa ating sinumpaang tungkulin. Maglingkod tayo sa bawat Manileño nang buong puso, patas at may malasakit (Whether there is someone looking or not, let us be true to our sworn duties. Let us serve each Manileño wholeheartedly, fairly, and with compassion)," he added.