MMDA tangles with SUV owner in clearing ops

At least eight vehicles were towed while a total of 22 were issued tickets during a clearing operation of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday against illegally parked vehicles in Quezon City. 

According to Maki Pulido’s report on 24 Oras, an owner of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) got into an argument with the MMDA as traffic authorities attempted to tow his vehicle after it was issued a ticket for illegal parking along Anahaw Street in Barangay Veterans Village. 

“Under the Philippine traffic laws and regulations, once a car is ticketed and unattended and you won’t be able to remove it, we have the right to tow it,”  MMDA Special Operations Strike Force Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Gabriel Go told the owner of the SUV. 

“We gave you more than five minutes,” said Go. 

This is not the first time the MMDA conducted clearing operations in the area.

“Gumagawa po kami ng ordinansa ngayon para sa one-way traffic, one side parking. It’s ongoing po,” said Barangay Chairperson Joy Landingin.

(We’re currently crafting an ordinance for one-way traffic and one side parking.)

Meanwhile, the MMDA also issued tickets to truck drivers who were illegally parked along Mel Lopez Boulevard in Manila.

The MMDA team also apprehended pedicabs that were illegally passing through national highways.

“Ang hirap lang po kasi wala kaming ibang choice kundi dito talaga. Sapalaran na lang sa mga truck,” a pedicab driver said.

(We really don’t have any choice but to pass through here. We just have to take the risk with the trucks.)—Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News