From shabu tiangge to gangsterland

Our beloved City of Pasig regularly finds itself in the news mostly for the wrong reason. It gets TV coverage because of bank robberies, gained national notoriety for the infamous “Shabu tiangge” and once again its in the news for two incidents of road rage where a couple was shot by a city lawyer and a truck driver was shot presumably by some law enforcer or military man in civilian outfit. But that may just be the beginning of it all.

We are not clear if Shaw Boulevard still falls under the local government or if the MMDA has taken full control and authority over this main thoroughfare. But what we do know is that it is now about to turn into a serious area of conflict if the authorities don’t step in.

Recently tow trucks with no less than four or five men on board have become more active along Shaw Boulevard. If Che Che Lazaro or Jessica Soho ever put these trucks on their agenda, everyone will get a video taped proof that these trucks are not there to assist motorists but to victimize motorists!

Last Monday I personally witnessed how a tow truck driver who was about six cars away from a stalled vehicle blew his horn like a mad man in his rush to get in front of the stalled vehicle. His GANG of five assistants jumped out of the truck and immediately tried to commandeer the vehicle before the driver could possibly restart the vehicle and deny the gangsters several thousand pesos as a “fine” for obstructing the road and towing services!

I  learned yesterday morning that another tow truck from a different company attempted the same stunt on a vehicle that was parked in front of an auto supply and had not been obstructing traffic. A man simply opened the door and took over the driver’s seat not realizing that there was a male passenger on board. The car happened to be mine! When they realized this they immediately left.

If the passenger were armed or decided that the guy was a carnapper there would have been another death on Shaw boulevard.

Apparently this tactic is the reason why the tow trucks have more than the usual two-man team. In case someone decides to oppose them they can scare, bully or even beat up the already disabled motorist.

The biggest problem is that these GANGSTERS and THUGS are mostly untrained, have no respect for rights, and are greedily concerned with profit rather than compassion. They don’t wear uniforms, no clear identification, and don’t follow an established course of action or formal approach.

Perhaps it has not occurred to the concerned City Mayors of Pasig and Mandaluyong or maybe the MMDA if it’s their turf, that any damage or death that occurs from these operations will also make them liable.

How can they so carelessly extend the power of the law with such irresponsibility?! Towing a car is one thing but if they happen to tow a vehicle that has a child on board or a wife etc things may end differently.

We can all talk about the law but if someone jumps into my car without even identifying and informing me about what I did wrong and what he has to do as part of his job, I certainly cannot be blamed if my response is less than godly. Having been victimized by carnappers once, I certainly am not going to be nice about someone trying to drive off with my car and my daughter in it.

God forbid, but it will be a lifetime of harassment for whoever has recklessly allowed these uncivilized and untrained gangsters and tow truck operators to prey on tax paying citizens. It is one thing to implement the law, it is another to trespass an extension of my abode and violate my personal space.

Why are we now prioritizing penalty and profit before assistance? Can we not at least give a 15-minute rule to pull over and fix the problem and if it can’t be done or if the vehicle is immobilized should we then tow it?!

Why has towing become more of the rule rather than the exception? Other countries will issue you a ticket rather than go through the complicated, corrupt and lawsuit ridden business of tow trucks.

Based on an MMDA ordinance before any of their authorized and MARKED tow trucks initiate action, they are first required to report the matter to the MMDA central. The personnel must wear uniform and identify themselves. But in the case of the Pasig operatives, none of them had visible IDs nor did they have any numbers that the public can call in case of abuse. I was also informed by my Pasig City sources that City hall had issued an ordinance that banned the MMDA or prevented their tow trucks from operating in the city.

Unfortunately, Pasig City and Mandaluyong City particularly have some of the most ineffective traffic enforcement officials in Metro Manila. Tricycle drivers operate even in main roads without fear, jeepneys “fly” through the length of Shaw Boulevard without headlights at night. Jeepneys have illegally transformed and ruled over residential areas in the Boni Avenue area. In Pasig many traffic personnel perform work only after 8 a.m or when there is already a traffic jam!

I am all for empowering the local governments but not placing the incompetent or possibly the corrupt in positions of power where they are more interested in profit rather than service and where they are not accountable for the money they make or damages they incur.

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Speaking of empowering LGUs, the financial disaster now facing the City of Manila deserves investigation by both houses of Congress because it is a shining example of what happens when local governments decide that they have as much power as Congress particularly in tax legislation.

Because of a defective or imperfect ordinance passed by the previous City administration, Manila now has to reimburse at least 4 multinational companies millions of pesos collected based on a defective tax passed by the City. The City of Manila will also have to pay a lot of court related legal fees.

Some cities as well as provincial governments have gotten out of hand in their irrational or unjust desire to create wealth or funding. Many senior citizens and retirees are being forced to give up ancestral homes because of excessive real estate taxes while some businesses are moving to less oppressive locations or business. It is time that we pass laws to control local governments who are becoming the law unto themselves!