Driver in viral towing confrontation to face several complaints from MMDA

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority may file at least four cases against a female driver involved in an altercation with traffic enforcers over illegal parking and traffic laws, an official said on Wednesday.

The confrontation was caught on video and went viral after Facebook page Gadget Addict posted the video on Tuesday.

“Marami kang puwedeng ipatong na kaso doon ano, pero we’re just limiting it to be illegal parking for now dahilnga po iba naman na yung kaso naipa-file ng legal team natin (MMDA),” Special Task Force Operations Bong Nebrija said in a press briefing.

Nebrija said the cases that might be filed against the woman were illegal parking, violating the number coding scheme, arrogance and “running away on a short chase” from traffic enforcers.

In the video, the woman was seen arguing in a raised voice against traffic enforcers and Nebrija. They were discussing the five-minute rule in committing illegal parking and she asked for proof that she arrived later than five minutes.

Based on the rules, traffic enforcers will first honk at an illegally parked car. If the driver does not return to the said car, the vehicle will be towed away. However, the driver will be automatically ticketed and fined P200 nonetheless.

“Yung five-minute rule na ‘yan, pinagbigyan na nga natin sila. Kasi talagang dapat dyan ‘pag illegal parking tow kaagad ‘yan. Pero dahil may puso si Bong… may five-minute rule po ang MMDA. Ibig sabihin pagdating nila; five minutes ng MMDA, hindi five minutes nang nalaman mo,” MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said.

In the latter part of the video, the driver’s husband arrived and revealed that the driver is pregnant. He accused the enforcers of harassing the woman by warning to tow her vehicle.

He threatened to sue them if his wife suffers from a miscarriage.

The husband argued that the enforcers should have just ticketed her wife in the first place.

Throughout the video, the driver was seen repeatedly refusing to present her license to the enforcers and Nebrija. Garcia said the license was necessary for enforcers as the ticket would be based on it.

“Sana po maging aral ulit na ito sa atin. Simpleng traffic violation po, ‘wag na po kayongmakipag-away. Bigay ninyo lang po ‘yung lisensya ninyo, ti-tiketan kayo, tapos na. Wala pa pong one minute, two minutes tapos na kaagad, kaysa magkaroon ng confrontation,” Garcia added.

According to the MMDA legal team, the woman would also face a case for direct assault as she reportedly ran over and damaged a traffic enforcer’s motorcycle while attempting to escape the enforcers.

Garcia said the MMDA has already filed a complaint to the Land Transportation Office seeking suspension and possible revocation of the driver’s license.

The MMDA official added that the traffic authority would write to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who has already promised to take action against the woman who turned out to be a public prosecutor.

The driver may also lose her license to practice as the MMDA legal team revealed that they plan to file a disbarment case before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

The video ended with the couple driving away and appeared to be rushing to the hospital as the husband claimed his pregnant wife is already bleeding because of the stress from the confrontation.

As of posting, the video earned around 11 million views and got over 250,000 shares. — Philstar intern Ali Ian Marcelino Biong