‘Mayor,’ 3 men beat up traffic aide

MANILA, Philippines - A man who introduced himself as a “mayor” and his three aides reportedly beat up a traffic aide in Ermita, Manila on Friday afternoon.

Jame Purisima, 39, a volunteer of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, filed a complaint with the Manila Police District.

According to a report of Senior Police Officer 1 James Poso, Purisima said a white Hyundai Starex van (ZSZ-458) parked in front of a barbershop near the corner of Mabini and TM Kalaw streets about 6:30 a.m.

At 1 p.m., Purisima said he approached the van driver to ask for the parking fee but was told to wait for his boss.

When the “mayor” arrived about an hour later, he confronted the driver to ask why his vehicle will be towed. Purisima, for his part, said he never said that.

Purisima alleged that the mayor cursed at him, then attacked him when he warned the man against hurling invectives at him. The man’s three aides also helped beat up Purisima, Poso said.

Poso said they went to the Land Transportation Office to identify the van’s owner but have yet to get results.