A modernized jeepney driver was arrested after he crumpled and threw away a Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP) issued to him by an enforcer for a traffic violation.

The incident happened along Bonifacio Drive in Iloilo City in the morning of Thursday, October 10, 2024.

Based on the account of the traffic enforcer, the modernized jeep stopped in E. Lopez Street in the district of Jaro to allow embarkation of passengers. But the said location is not a designated loading and unloading area.

When the traffic enforcer told the driver of his violation, the driver handed over his license and signed the TOP. However, the traffic enforcer said that he was startled when the driver crumpled the TOP, threw it on the ground, and began swearing.

“Ginbuyayaw niya gid ako sir. Daw naigo ang ego ko. Indi manami. Dapat kasuhan kag para indi dapat pagparesan (Minura nya ako. Parang tinamaan ang ego ko, hindi maganda. Dapat kasuhan upang huwag pamarisan),” Louise (pronounced Lo-wi) Batisla-ong, the traffic enforcer, said.

The driver also revved up the vehicle and left hurriedly, Batisla-ong said.

Batisla-ong added that he ran after the jeep while asking for help from his fellow traffic enforcers, as well as the police, that led to the arrest of the driver in front of the Hall of Justice at the city proper.

The driver was referred to only as alias “J-R.” When the news team tried to get his side to the incident, he refused to give his real name. He denied cursing the traffic enforcer but he admitted to having crumpled and thrown the TOP citing he was enraged by the issuance.

He said that Batisla-ong should have been more impartial in implementing the law.

“Pag-obra ya sang TOP sa akon, may nagpondo nga bus to kag nag-pick-up man. Waay ya gindakop. Sa sobra ko ya kaakig, wala ko nagsapak sa iya. Naglakat kami diretso kag ginkumos ko lang ya kag gindagdag (Habang ginagawa niya ang TOP ko, may tumigil na bus at nagpick up rin. Hindi niya hinuli. Sa sobrang galit ko, hindi ko na siya pinansin. Umalis kami at nilukot ko at itinapon),” alias J-R said.

Batisla-ong had the incident reported at the Iloilo City Police Station 9. He filed a complaint against the driver for unjust vexation and disobedience to lawful person.

As for the Iloilo City Traffic and Transportation Management Office (TTMO), it would not condone the behavior of the driver, thus the filing of charges.

“Kami ya wala man kami ga-tolerate sang amon mga enforcer. Kun may mag-complaint sa ila kag once ma-prove namon ya, pwede man sila i-terminate (Kami, hindi rin namin tino-tolerate ang aming mga enforcer. Kung may complaint sa kanila, once ma-prove namin, pwede silang i-terminate,” Iloilo City TTMO Head Uldarico Garbanzos said.

Further, the Iloilo City TTMO has coordinated with the cooperative with which the driver is associated.