Traffic enforcer dies, colleague axed

MANILA, Philippines — A Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) enforcer died after his colleague reportedly stopped the ambulance that was carrying him to the hospital last Friday afternoon.

A video posted on Facebook on July 6 by Dan Russell Santos, which has gone viral, showed the driver of the ambulance explaining to traffic enforcer Raymond Bauron that he is bringing a sick man to the hospital.

In the same video, Santos’ cousin Gerome Tagle was seen telling Bauron that “every second is important to the patient.”

But Bauron seemed arrogant and even became angry at the driver.

The one who posted the video said the patient, identified only as Abad Santos, did not reach the Philippine General Hospital alive.

Bauron insisted that the ambulance driver should not be in a hurry and demanded his license.

The STAR tried to contact MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza but failed.

MTPB official Mark Bien Urrietta agreed to be interviewed although he said he was not the proper authority.

He said they saw the video, adding that the MTPB human resources department has fired Bauron.

“There is no second or third chance for traffic enforcers like him. They know from the start that ambulance, fire trucks and police cars should always run the streets uninterrupted,” he said.