MMDA readies raps vs motorist who shot traffic enforcer

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is preparing frustrated murder charges against a motorist who shot and wounded one of its enforcers after violating traffic rules in San Juan City Wednesday. MMDA traffic discipline office head Yves Gonzalez said they expect to file the charges against Edward John Gonzalez within Thursday, radio dzBB's Paulo Santos reported. The MMDA's Gonzalez posted on his Twitter account a photo of the detained suspect. On the other hand, MMDA's Gonzalez said the wounded traffic enforcer, Larry Fiala, was recuperating at the Victor Potenciano Medical Center (VPMC) after undergoing a surgery. Police had arrested suspect Gonzalez, 30, at his Makati City residence Wednesday night, hours after the shooting. The dzBB report said the suspect refused to undergo a medical exam and paraffin test. The suspect also refused to comment on the incident, it added. Meanwhile, the dzBB report said Fiala was brought to the recovery room at the VPMC. "He is recuperating. [The] operation went well," MMDA's Gonzalez said of Fiala. An investigation showed Fiala was shot along Florida street parallel to Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), behind the new Shell station near Connecticut Street. Citing initial reports, MMDA's Gonzalez said the incident started at Annapolis Street, when Fiala flagged down Gonzalez for violating the number coding scheme. Gonzalez allegedly punched Fiala and ran, triggering a chase that ended at the Shell gas station at Connecticut Street, and where Gonzalez shot Fiala. According to reports, witnesses managed to identify the vehicle involved and the plate number. — LBG, GMA News