Don't lose your cool with the MMDA... they shoot back

[mikey177]

http://www.inq7.net/met/2003/oct/08/met_7-1.htm

[SIZE=3]Armed, bike-riding group to beef up traffic enforcers[/SIZE]
Posted: 6:48 AM (Manila Time) | Oct. 08, 2003
By Margaux Ortiz
Inquirer News Service

EVEN traffic enforcers need protection.

A Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) official Tuesday said that because traffic enforcers assigned to fixed, permanent posts are exposed to "violent lawbreakers," they need reinforcement from an external group.

MMDA Traffic Operations Center director Angelito Vergel de Dios said they have dispatched a group of motorcycle-riding "troubleshooters" to regularly check on traffic enforcers and respond to emergencies.
Vergel de Dios said they are aware how a traffic aide's life can be endangered whenever faced with angry and vengeful motorists, illegal operators and even corrupt law enforcers.

According to Vergel de Dios, the "troubleshooters" are tasked to respond to complaints regarding abusive motorists whom ordinary traffic enforcers could not apprehend.

"Pasulpot-sulpot sila sa isang lugar para tulungan yung mga traffic enforcers (The troubleshooters show up in a place every once in a while to back up a traffic enforcer in the performance of his duties)," he explained.

The special unit is made up of at least 20 MMDA personnel. The members are equipped with licensed firearms.

"How could they face violent lawbreakers if they do not have the capacity (firearms) to defend themselves?" Vergel de Dios reasoned out.

***********

I really don't like this development. We have regular armed law enforcers (police) for a reason. How much training have these 20 or so MMDA enforcers received on when and how to use lethal force? Do they have any experience in verbal de-escalation or negotiation? Do they know about the force continuum and when it is justified to draw a firearm against another person? Medyo malabo yata ito, mga kapatid.

[ghosthunter]

and if there is a shoot-out... this would happen on the side of a busy road with a lot of people. Potential victims of a wayward bullet fired either by the MMDA or car driver.

[the_wildthing]

Wow! Totally agree. Baka mamaya basta na lang sila mamamaril. E may pulis nga pag nalasing namamaril na lang.

[gearspeed]

Wow! Totally agree. Baka mamaya basta na lang sila mamamaril. E may pulis nga pag nalasing namamaril na lang.

Well...Higpitan na lang nila yun may mga gumagamit ng baril para hindi mangyari ang mga ganyan...

[van_wilder]

oo nga... magiging abusado rin yan mga yan...

[Bogeyman]

Kudos to the government for coming up with yet another bird-brained idea.

It's just another excuse to give MMDA enforcers this deluded notion of power. Hello, you wouldn't even need to worry about violence from private gunowners if you have an effective screening system in the first place! May mga individuals kasi na dinadaan na lang sa suhol yung application nila sa Crame, kaya kung sinu-sino na lang ang nakakakuha ng gun license, kahit psychotic pwede. Yung mga pulis patola naman, nagpapasuhol! Tapos ngayon yung mga enforcers na ang takot, thinking that the problem will be solved by arming their traffic aides? E kung someday magkaroon ng topic sa Goon Squad HQ tungkol dito?

That's bureaucratic thinking for you. Feh....

[kiper]

I think hindi natuloy ito. Masyado kasing magaling para gawin nila ito eh.

[carlocaraddict]

pag may baril ang mga yan, sigurado magiging MAYAYABANG AT MALALAKI ANG ULO ang mga yan!

[quiksie]

Ang dapat gawin ay kumuha sila ng mga may utak na mga MMDA's kasi dapat magaling sila magreasonout kung may mahuli man silang mga violators hindi dadaanin sa dami nila or by force. Kulang kasi sa knowledge ang mga MMDA sa pagtatraffic. Sila nga ang nagpapatraffic.

Ang OA naman nun magpapatupad niyan.