BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino yesterday said he is scheduled to meet with the traffic enforcer who was seen in a video posted on social media, shouting at a traffic violator in Bacolod City Wednesday, to find out what really happened.
Espino, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Transportation and Traffic, said this behavior should not be tolerated since he has received specific instruction from Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez that they should serve not only their constituents but also the public with a smile.
He will also try to determine the status of the traffic enforcer whether he is a regular employee, a new hire or continuing hire, he said.
“If he is not yet hired, I will recommend that he should not be hired because I cannot tolerate this kind of behavior. But let us give him due process. However, if he is a regular employee, there are sanctions they can impose on him according to Civil Service Commission laws,” Espino said.
The driver’s wife, Joan Ducay, was able to document the incident and questioned the actuation of the traffic enforcer when her husband’s attention was called for an alleged traffic violation.
While she admitted that her husband committed infractions, the traffic enforcer should not shout at him, Ducay said.
Espino said that according to the traffic enforcer, he only admonished the driver. But he should not give advice. Both parties have already reached a settlement and he also assured the driver that in the event he will feel threatened, he can go directly to his office and he will deal with the matter accordingly.
“The Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) is a creation of the SP by way of an ordinance. So, we are responsible for whatever happens within,” he said.
Espino said the driver and his wife are not filing a complaint against the traffic enforcer. They also admitted that they have committed a violation and are willing to be penalized.
The traffic enforcer is supposed to issue a citation ticket if a violation was committed and not shout at the driver.
PMajor Junji Liba, chief of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office, said he already summoned the traffic enforcer to explain his actions.*
