"Arming of MMDA traffic enforcers pushed"

[ghosthunter]

Arming of MMDA traffic enforcers pushed
By Mike Frialde
February 20, 2012 01:57 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino pushed for the arming of some of its traffic enforcers after a group of illegal scooter racers mulled a traffic enforcer Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard last Saturday.

In an interview over radio dzRH, Tolentino said that as traffic enforcers may encounter violent incidents while performing their duties, they may need the use of firearms to defend themselves.

Tolentino proposed that not all MMDA traffic enforcers be armed, but only their supervisors, whom he said, are responsible enough to handle and use guns.

“Ang plano ay yung official na supervisor. Yung may mga ranggong traffic officers 2 and 3 lang. Sila ay may masters degree at sa tingin ko ay magiging responsible naman,” said Tolentino.

Tolentino said there are no more than 20 supervisors with the ranks of Traffic Officers 2 and 3 in the MMDA’s roster.

Tolentino said the plan was revived following last Saturday’s attack on MMDA motorcycle enforcer Raul Reuterez by a group of scooter racers in Pasay City.

MMDA Traffic Discipline Office chief Yves Gonzalez said Reuterez along with other MMDA enforcers were at the portion of the boulevard near the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) building when the racers beat them up around 1:40 a.m.

Gonzalez said the racers ganged up on motorcycle enforcer Reuterez. He was hit on the head with what appeared to be a steel pipe. He was later rushed to a hospital to have his head wound stitched up.

“Prior to the attack, the enforcers heard the racers say they were going to get their guns and shoot them,” Gonzalez said.

According to the MMDA, the racers who attacked Reuterez then fled after the incident.

Gonzalez said the MMDA is reviewing footage from its closed-circuit television cameras along the boulevard to identify the racers. He said the MMDA would also ask the DFA for a copy of the footage taken by the CCTV cameras installed at the DFA building.

SOURCE: Arming of MMDA traffic enforcers pushed » Nation » News | Philippine News | philstar.com

[ghosthunter]

Sounds like another bad idea from a knee-jerk reaction to an isolated incident.

[vinj]

Just as before: NO!

We will end up creating more problems then solving them; we can't even properly arm and train our own police personnel. Better to have these MMDA personnel accompanied by HPG or the local police jurisdiction when they are doing high risk work or operations.

[baludoy]

no way.

that's the kind of pandora's box i'd rather keep a lid on permanently