New PNP traffic group chief named

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. expects an improvement in the traffic situation with the appointment of a new official to lead the Philippine National Police-Traffic Enforcement Group.

Superintendent Luisito Maralit replaced Senior Superintendent Vicente Raval as chief of the PNP-TEG last Thursday, a move which was pushed by Abalos himself since his assumption of office six months ago.

Abalos openly spoke of the supposedly poor performance of Raval since the first month of his term as MMDA chairman.

He often criticized Raval for being ineffective in enforcing his campaign against illegal terminals and vendors as well as improving the flow of traffic along the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila, particularly on EDSA.

Raval was always on the defensive as he claimed that there was a demolition job against him from the higher ups of MMDA. He argued that the PNP-TEG was ill-equipped to carry out the campaign of Abalos because access to supplies and equipment was controlled by the MMDA.

Fuel, patrol cars and other equipment such as two-way radios were under the control of the MMDA-Traffic Operations Center headed by Executive Director for Traffic Ernesto Camarillo.

Raval also blamed the legal problems faced by his men in going after the illegal vendors and terminals as most of the culprits had permits from local government units. – Marvin Sy