Maserati driver roughs up enforcer

MANILA, Philippines - A traffic enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) was left bloodied on the road after he was repeatedly punched and then dragged by a motorist driving a luxury sports car in Quezon City yesterday morning.

MMDA traffic enforcer Jurve Adriatico was brought to the East Avenue Medical Center after being punched in the face allegedly by Joseph Russel Ingco, 39, of New Manila, Quezon City, who was driving a blue Maserati Ghibli sports car, said Quezon City Police District director Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao.

Ingco was positively identified by Adriatico, who suffered a broken nose.

The incident happened after Ingco was apparently irked when an MMDA traffic enforcer took photographs and video of his car for allegedly committing a traffic violation.

Pagdilao said the incident happened shortly after 6 a.m. at the corner of Quezon and Araneta avenues where Adriatico and his fellow enforcers were manning traffic.

Ingco allegedly made an illegal left turn at the intersection, prompting the traffic enforcers to take photos and video of the car. Ingco made a U-turn and went back to confront the traffic enforcers.

He called Adriatico over and when the enforcer was beside the car, the suspect allegedly yanked the enforcer’s shirt and punched him repeatedly while the car was still moving.

Pagdilao noted that as Adriatico was being punched, he was also dragged for about 10 meters before the driver let go and sped off.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino condemned yesterday the assault and said the motorist should be penalized.

Tolentino, in an interview with radio dzMM, offered a P100,000 reward for any information that will lead to the arrest of the Maserati driver.

He said the Philippine National Police is following up the case and closing in on the owner of the sports car.

“The police will make arrest any time,” he said.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said police are conducting follow-up operations to apprehend the driver of the Maserati Ghibli, reportedly worth P7 million.

There are only two blue Maserati Ghiblis in the Philippines at the moment.

Pagdilao had initially traced a Maserati owner but his vehicle was not the one involved in the incident. – With Perseus Echeminada, Non Alquitran