MANILA, Philippines - Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino said yesterday he is pushing for putting guns in the hands of some traffic enforcers in the wake of an attack on one of the MMDA’s traffic enforcers by a group of illegal scooter racers at the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard last Saturday.
In an interview over radio station dzRH, Tolentino said that as traffic enforcers may encounter violent incidents while performing their jobs on the streets, they may need firearms to defend themselves.
“The plan is to arm supervisors, the ones with the rank of Traffic Officer 2 and 3. They are the ones with master’s degrees and who I believe would be responsible,” he said, adding that there are no more than 20 supervisors in the MMDA.
Motorcycle enforcer Raul Reuterez was beaten up after the MMDA had been disrupting illegal scooter races along the boulevard for two weeks.
MMDA Traffic Discipline Office chief Yves Gonzalez said “prior to the attack, the enforcers heard the racers say they were going to get their guns and shoot them.”
Tolentino said the MMDA is coordinating with the Highway Patrol Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on its drive against illegal street racing. The MMDA has also deployed more traffic enforcers along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard and brought tow trucks to impound the vehicles of those caught participating in illegal races.
The police forces of Pasay and Parañaque – two cities the boulevard connects – pointed to each other when asked to help stop the illegal races, the MMDA said.
‘Apply for a permit’
The PNP, on the other hand, is cool to the idea of arming the MMDA’s field supervisors.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz said MMDA personnel could apply for a permit to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR), just like any other civilian gun owner.
Cruz said MMDA traffic enforcers cannot be issued guns to be used in their daily duties as they are not considered law enforcers. “But being citizens, they can request for a PTCFOR which will be granted by the PNP chief,” he told The STAR in a phone interview.
Cruz also questioned Tolentino’s reason for arming the MMDA’s field supervisors. “The supervisors are not the ones usually exposed to danger. If they will be given guns, everyone should be given guns,” he said.
Rather than arming a few MMDA supervisors, Cruz proposed that the MMDA closely coordinate with local police units in the areas where its enforcers will conduct operations. “We are ready to provide their teams with security,” he said.
Cruz also warned MMDA personnel who maybe granted PTCFORs that they are not allowed to show their guns in public or carry them into commercial or public establishments.