TMG men up in arms vs chief

More than 300 Traffic Management Group officers and personnel are up in arms against their own director, Chief Superintendent Renato Paredes, for what they described as unreasonable and militaristic disciplinary action imposed on them.

TMG personnel asked Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Panfilo Lacson to look into their complaints against Paredes’ actions since he assumed office about six months ago. Lacson and Paredes were classmates at the Philippine Military Academy.

When interviewed by The STAR, Paredes merely said the matter has been settled among his officers. "We have talked and everything is settled, "he said. He refused to elaborate but sources said Paredes talked with his officers and admitted his mistakes yesterday morning.

In a letter to Lacson, the TMG personnel sought justification for numerous actions of Paredes, including questionable deductions from their pay checks.

"The whole TMG has had low-morale for the past months. All of us here have lost respect for the director, all we have is fear of being reprimanded," said Superintendent Hermogenes Tosino, chief of the TMG-National Capital Region’s Intelligence and Investigation Unit.

A verbal confrontation with Tosino Thursday afternoon at the TMG headquarters, prompted fed up TMG personnel to finally stand up against Paredes.

In an interview by The STAR, TMG officers revealed that this was not the first time Paredes had abusively reprimanded his men. TMG officers, from his deputy directors down to the rank-and-file, were ordered to do push-ups and to squat in front of other officers for unreasonable reasons. Even TMG personnel directing traffic in the metropolis’ busy intersections were not spared.