The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's (MMDA) mighty road clearing team was apparently no match for two Manila congressmen clad in their Barong Tagalog undershirts.

Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua and Manila 2rd district Rep. Rolando Valeriano intervened and successfully halted on Friday morning, March 3 an MMDA clearing operation in M. Natividad Street in Manila, which, according to the solons, once again displayed the agency's "abuse of power".

Valeriano and Chua is the chairman and vice chairman, respectively of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development.

Incidentally, Chua delivered last Feb. 27 a privilege speech in the House of Representatives wherein he called for the abolition of the MMDA for its supposed encroachment of local government unit (LGU) functions and exercise of police power that it doesn't even possess.

Chua, in an interview with reporters on the scene, said he accosted the MMDA personnel who were conducted clearing operations in M. Natividad, which he described as an alley and not even a secondary road.

He said he was on his way to a local function when he chanced upon the commotion and saw the MMDA clearing team hauling off motorcycles left and right, including those from delivery riders.

Chua said he told the MMDA that the street was not a designated "Mabuhay Lane". "'Anong jurisdiction ninyo dito kasi city road nato eh. Ang ginagamit nilang dahilan kesyo may reklamo ('What's your jurisdiction here, this is already a city road.' The excuse they're using is that they were responding to a complaint)," he narrated.

"Ang linaw dun sa sulat ni Mayora eh. Kung may reklamo, dalhin ninyo dito sa ciry hall, kami ang aaksyun dahil ito ay hurisdiskyon ng Lungsod ng Maynila (The Mayor's letter is clear. If there are complaints, tell the city hall because this is under the jurisdiction of the city of Manila, we're the ones who will act).

"Sobra na ang pang-aabuso ng mga to, dapat talaga dito buwagin na (This is too much abuse. They should be abolished). Abuse of power!" Chua said.

Chua added that he wanted to talk to MMDA Task Force Special Operations and Anti-Colorum Unit chief Edison Bong Nebrija, but couldn't find him in the area.

"Sabi ko nga sa kanila ilabas nila si Bong Nebrija, pero wala namang lumalabas na Bong Nebrija (I told them to bring out Bong Nebrija, but he didn't emerge)," he said.

Valeriano, who accompanied Chua, also gave a piece of his mind to the MMDA.

"Wala naman silang karapatan na, wala naman silang police power. In the first place, mayroon nama pong batas dito sa Maynila, mayroon namang otoridad sa Maynila. Kung mayroon man hong problema, pwede naman ho silang makipag-coordinate (They have no right to do this, they don't have police power. In the first place, we have laws here in Manila, we have authorities here in Manila. If there's a problem, they can coordinate).

"Pwede naman, may pulis ang Maynila, mayroon pong parking bureau ang Maynila. Pwede naman po kaming umaksyon...mayroon pong gobyerno ang Maynila (Manila has its own police and parking bureau. We can act on this...Manila has its own government),"  Valeriano said.

He added: "Pambabastos na po ito ng aming siyudad (This is a disrespect to our city)."

The MMDA clearing team simply withdrew as the congressmen refused to leave.

Valeriano later confirmed that the Metro Manila Development panel will hold a briefing with MMDA officials on March 8 in connection with its clearing operations in Manila, based on the letter of Barangay Chairperson Ma. Victoria Cobrador of the fourth district of Sampaloc, Manila. The letter was dated Feb. 20, 2023.