Palace not keen on arming MMDA men after shooting incident

Malacañang is not too keen on suggestions to arm Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcers following the shooting of an enforcer by a traffic violator last week. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte over the weekend appealed to the parties concerned to keep calm in drawing up solutions to make sure last Wednesday’s incident is not repeated. “At this point, naintindihan natin ang damdamin ng nasa likod ng panawagang ito. Siguro mas mabuting kumalma tayo at bago magbigay, at i-assess natin kung may pangangailangan," she said on government-run dzRB radio. But Valte suggested the Palace is open to increasing hazard pay for traffic enforcers, although she said it will depend on whether the MMDA has the budget for it. “Yan ay isang bagay na kailangan nila talakayin sa sarili nilang ahensya, kung may budget para mabigyan sila ng (dagdag na) hazard pay," she said. Earlier, the MMDA had said it studying ways on how its traffic enforcers can defend themselves in road-rage incidents, after a motorist shot and wounded a traffic enforcer last Wednesday. MMDA spokesperson Tina Velasco assured the public the agency would not take drastic measures such as arming its enforcers without studying all options thoroughly. Traffic enforcer Larry Fiala was shot and wounded after apprehending motorist Edward John Gonzalez in Mandaluyong City. Gonzalez now faces charges of frustrated murder, while Fiala is recuperating in a hospital. The incident prompted suggestions to arm MMDA traffic enforcers so they can defend themselves. But Velasco admitted the MMDA is wary of perceptions that Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and other major thoroughfares may seem like the “wild, wild west" if MMDA enforcers were to get firearms to defend themselves. “Pag-aaralan ito nang mabuti. Hindi ito ang solution na tinitingnan, hindi magiging drastic. Pag-aaralan yan ng traffic supervisors and leaders," she said. Other options the MMDA is studying include a basic martial art-based self-defense course and a buddy system for enforcers, she said. — MRT/LBG, GMA News