Traffic enforcers get martial arts traning

[Dieseler]

Kaya magingat na tayo...watch out for that batuta...

http://www.inq7.net/met/2003/jul/11/met_6-1.htm

Traffic enforcers get
martial arts training
Posted: 10:19 PM (Manila Time) | Jul. 10, 2003
By Luige del Puerto and Leila Salaverria
Inquirer News Service

TRAFFIC enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority are now being trained in the Filipino martial art of "arnis."

But that has not stopped truck driver Noel Rabasta from trying to knock the lights out of MMDA traffic enforcer Rowel Gacho, 20, police said Thursday.


Gacho flagged down the ten-wheel truck Rabasta was driving at around 8:30 p.m. on Ortigas corner Laluza Avenues in Pasig City, police said.

According to MMDA rules, trucks are banned from the roads from 5 to 9 a.m. and from 5 to 9 p.m.

Gacho accosted Rabasta, 33, of Quezon City, and asked for his driver's license. But the driver refused and claimed it was already 10 p.m. and that the truck ban was over. A heated argument ensued, police said. Rabasta then challenged the MMDA officer to a fist fight, and the two slugged it out for a few minutes, police said.

Rabasta then tried to flee in his truck when other MMDA enforcers approached. But he was cornered by responding policemen.

The truck driver is now facing charges of assaulting a person in authority, the police said.

On Thursday, the MMDA's Traffic Operations Center Director Angelito Vergel de Dios said that 60 enforcers had already finished their arnis training, which began last month and was conducted by a group of arnis experts.

A second batch of enforcers are set to undergo the same training.

"The training is meant to build up the traffic enforcers' self-confidence," Vergel de Dios told the Inquirer.

He explained that enforcers would more likely run after traffic rule violators, even the arrogant ones, if they would be armed with the means to defend themselves.

The traffic director also pointed out that enforcers get into arguments with motorists "four out of five times." So, in case any of the apprehended drivers get aggressive, the MMDA men won't be at a disadvantage, he said.

Vergel de Dios added that even bus conductors sometimes go after MMDA enforcers.

Vergel de Dios also said enforcers would be able to utilize their arnis skills by using their "batuta" or night sticks.

While members of the first batch consisted of male enforcers, Vergel de Dios said women enforcers would undergo the same training as well.

[ghosthunter]

hmmmm, maybe it time for the drivers to buy tazzer guns that fire darts and can electricute a person from ten feet away?

[pajerokid]

ok yan! they could perform a nice roundhouse to the faces of those deym jeepney drivers

[usokpower]

Bakit wala ba silang martial arts training in the first place?

How about yung PNP?