BATANG MAYNILA
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno
Last week, we handed Manila Traffic Parking Bureau (MTPB) traffic enforcer a plaque and a cash award in recognition of his dedication to duty, when he exercised maximum tolerance and did not budge as a lady motorist he accosted for a traffic violation physically assaulted him while trying to snatch from his hand the documents she gave.
Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and MTPB chief Dennis Viaje were also on hand to join me in commending and lauding Marcos Anzurez, Jr. for keeping his cool.
As of presstime, the lady motorist identified as Pauline Mae Altamirano alias Maria Hola Sy, 26, said to be a model and residing at Unit 8E, Tres Palmas, Taguig City, along with her cohorts namely, Rendor Sanchez, 30; Jason dela Cruz,29, and Marlon de Guzman, 29, all of Calamba, Laguna, have all been charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office. All four were not only found in possession of illegal drugs but also tested positive for drug use.
This explains the kind of bad behavior that suspect Altamirano displayed on the said day, wherein she was seen attacking the enforcer, hitting him several times with her hand.
As you probably know by now, Altamirano was accosted for beating the red light but when accosted, she failed to present a driver’s license. Upon learning that her car will be impounded, she tried to get back the vehicle’s documents from Anzurez but the latter refused. After hitting Anzurez several times, she locked herself in the car so that Anzurez and his companion sought help from Lt. Col. Ibay who had the vehicle towed.
Altamirano was already processed in the office of Lt. Col. Jhun Ibay, chief of the special mayor’s reaction team (SMART), when it was discovered that she carried drugs in her bag, when she was asked her to bring out the contents.
At this point, Altamirano received text messages from one of the suspects who asked if the drugs were found by the police. The suspects did not know she was already cooperating with the police who were monitoring their conversation.
Lt Col. Ibay directed Altamirano to tell Sanchez to get the drugs from her and when he came, he was nabbed. Sanchez then readily told the police that he has two other companions waiting for him in a van parked beside the Universidad de Manila. The two also yielded a plastic containing shabu.
I had to see for myself the arrested suspects and admonish them for using Manila in their illicit operations, knowing how serious we in the local government are, when it comes to dealing with any violations of the law, moreso drug pushing.
Once again, I thank Anzurez for showing to everybody that enforcers of the law just like him must have enough patience in dealing with their day-to-day work.
Just like all other traffic enforcers, Anzurez bears the scorching heat of the sun or heavy rains, on top of not being able to sit down and rest while performing his duties all day long and yet, he did not let these difficulties affect his behavior toward the lady motorist. He could have easily vented his ire on the motorist who was already hurting him, but he did not.
Instead, Anzurez chose not to retaliate and thus violate any law or any human rights as he merely stood there, in the belief that as a public servant, he must have maximum tolerance toward the public.
Indeed, what Anzurez did has once again helped restore the people's trust and dignity in the MTPB, given the fact about how bad the image of the MTPB had been for the past previous years.
With much pride, I can say that the MTPB nowadays truly deserve commendation not only for enforcing traffic regulations to the letter but even for running after armed criminals at the risk of getting killed.
I learned that even President Duterte was impressed by the way Anzurez handled the situation and said he would even want to meet Anzurez.
At this point, I would also like to commend the efforts of Lt. Col. Ibay and the Manila Police District headed by its director, Gen. Leo Francisco for having taken off the streets of Manila four drug couriers, which included the lady motorist who assaulted our traffic enforcer, via a follow-up operation.
I am also appealing to all motorists traversing the roads of Manila to please follow traffic regulations and not to assault our traffic enforcers who are just performing their duties.
They do not deserve that kind of treatment. In fact, no public servant or human being deserves such.
Gaya ng paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, kailangan ko ang tulong ninyong lahat. Walang mag mamalasakit sa Maynila kundi tayo ding mga Batang Maynila. Manila, God first!
For updates on latest developments in the city of Manila, please visit my Facebook account--- ‘Isko Moreno Domagoso.’