A man who assaulted a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) enforcer in Pasay City has been arrested and found in possession of illegal drugs.
On Wednesday afternoon, a CCTV at Barangay 26, Zone 4 caught the MMDA towing a vehicle the suspect, a mechanic, was repairing. This resulted in an altercation between the suspect and an MMDA enforcer on a motorcycle, accompanied by a second enforcer.
When the suspect began taking a video of the enforcer, the latter pushed the suspect’s phone aside, which fell. The suspect punched him thrice, causing him to fall off his motorcycle and hit his head on the gutter.
The motorcycle was set upright, but the 62-year-old MMDA enforcer lost his balance. The two continued bickering until more of both parties’ companions joined them.
The suspect was arrested, and authorities were informed that a number of residents have already complained about him. Barangay officials have also told him off, but the suspect is stubborn, a barangay watchman reported.
The suspect was a mechanic who worked with cars and motorcycles but did not have a place of his own in which to conduct the repairs. He resorted to the side of the road instead.
Aside from indirect assault complaints, the suspect will also face charges for the possession of illegal drugs. Upon apprehension, .20 grams of what is believed to be shabu was confiscated from him. According to Police Col. Samuel Pabonita, the shabu is valued at ₱1,360.
The suspect has admitted and is remorseful.
“Habang vine-video ko siya, ginanun niya ko nang malakas. Cellphone ko tumilapon, nadurog. Nag-iba ‘yung ano ko kaya … Pagsuntok ko, sa helmet. Ang nakasugat sa kanya ay yung salamin sa helmet niya, ‘yun na ‘yun,” the suspect said.
(While I was taking a video of him, he hit me hard. My cellphone was thrown away, was crushed. Something in me changed so … When I punched him, I hit his helmet. The glass on his helmet gave him his wound, that’s it.)
He is is currently under the custody of the Arnaiz Police Station.
The enforcer, meanwhile, is in good hands at a hospital where he is receiving medical attention after having given the police his account, assured Gabriel Go, the MMDA Strike Force’s Officer-In-Charge.
“As of the moment, ang ating enforcer … Okay naman siya, except for medyo nabasag ang kanyang ngipin. We will be advising him, ipapa-X-Ray, MRI just to be sure … And bilang isang enforcer na nagpapatupad ng batas, ‘yun ang sinasabi namin, it is not the proper thing na mangyari sa kanya because he is just executing his line of duty,” Go stated.
(As of the moment, our enforcer … He’s okay, except his teeth have slightly broken. We will advise him to undergo an X-Ray, an MRI just to be sure … And as an enforcer implementing the law, that’s what we’re saying, it isn’t proper that this happened to him because he is just executing his duty.)
