Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) fired its traffic aide who was involved in a viral domestic violence video on social media.
The video showed MMDA Traffic Aide 1 Roel Gatos punching his wife and child. MMDA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago said Gatos put the name of the agency to shame because of what he did.
“The domestic violence which became trending on social media tarnished the reputation of the agency in which he was identified as an aide of MMDA,” she said.
Pialago said the traffic aide was already filed with disgraceful and immoral conduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of MMDA.
She also said that police already arrested and detained Gatos for abusing his wife and 11-year-old child. Both of the domestic violence incidents were caught on video.
According to reports, the incident happened at their house in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
MMDA gave groceries to the wife and children of the traffic aid to help them during the COVID-19 crisis.
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3 MMDA traffic enforcers suspended for violating ECQ
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has identified three traffic enforcers who violated ECQ by having backrides while driving a motorcycle.
According to MMDA EDSA Traffic Chief Bong Nebrija, the three enforcers were already given ticket violations and are now in preventive suspension for violating the rules of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on COVID-19 response which prohibit backride in a motorcycle.
“Sana maintindihan kami ng ibang frontliners na katulad nila na tumugon sa kanilang tungkuling, kami rin po ay tumutugon sa aming tungkulin at meron kaming mga polisiya at mandato na kailangang ipatupad. Pasensiya na po, pare-pareho po tayong tatamaan nito,” said Nebrija.
(I hope other frontliners would understand that just like them, we are also performing our duties and we have policies and mandates needed to impose. I am sorry, but we are all covered by this.)
The MMDA also said they continue to investigate the three enforcers as part of their due process. They are also looking at filing an administrative case against the enforcers.
Nebrija added that there is no exemption to the ban on backride during this enhanced community quarantine.