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Artes says MMDA officer who shamed cop a 'dedicated enforcer', but vows to punish him if found guilty in probe
Artes says MMDA officer who shamed cop a 'dedicated enforcer', but vows to punish him if found guilty in probe
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has issued a show cause order (SCO) to its ranking officials in charge of road clearing operations over allegations of abuse of authority when he allegedly berated a police officer in Quezon City.
MMDA chairperson Don Artes said the issuance of the SCO is part of the conduct of investigation against Gabriel Go, head of the Special Operations Group-Strike Force which is in charge of the clearing operations of major roads in Metro Manila.
“The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acknowledges the recent incident involving our SOG-SF Head Gabriel Go, and we are addressing the matter seriously and with full accountability,” said Artes.
“Mr. Go is a dedicated MMDA enforcer. If he committed a mistake, we will accord him due process and penalize him as justified,” he added.
The controversy involving Go stemmed from a viral video wherein he was seen berating a police captain for illegal parking.
The incident did not sit well with several policemen and personalities, including National Police Commission (Napolcom) commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan who called out Go for going too far when he started lashing out at the police captain in Quezon City.
Some cops also reminded Go that it was the policemen who protected him during a confrontation with jeepney drivers in last week’s transport strike in San Juan City.
The incident was further fueled when Sen. JV Ejercito questioned the MMDA for rehiring Go when he already resigned over an allegation of harassment against a female traffic enforcer.
Artes confirmed that Go resigned in June 2023 and was rehired in November of the same year.
“At the time of his rehiring, no case had been filed against him. No formal or sworn complaint, nor any supporting documentation related to the matter, was submitted to the MMDA Committee on Decorum and Investigation,” said Artes.
Sorry
Artes also apologized for the incident involving Go, particularly to the family of the police captain.
“We, the officials of MMDA, consistently remind all our employees that we are public servants and that we should treat everyone with respect and utmost courtesy. Even in times of aggression, we exercise maximum tolerance and compassion,” said Artes.
“However, we are only human. We get tired, and sometimes, our zealousness in enforcing the traffic laws gets the best of us,” he added.
Artes said they already reached out to the top officials of the Philippine National Police, the Napolcom, and Quezon City Police District CPD regarding this issue.
“We all agreed that this isolated incident will not, in any way, tarnish our good relationship, and that we shall maintain coordination, mutual respect, and cooperation between our organizations,” he said.