48 MMDA employees in ‘freezer’ over corruption

MANILA, Philippines — All 48 members of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)’s anti-jaywalking unit were placed on floating status yesterday over alleged corruption.

Salvador Galang, head of the anti-jaywalking unit, is being investigated along with 47 other employees, according to MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia.

Garcia said they tapped the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the employees for alleged corruption.

“They will remain on floating status pending result of the investigation,” he said.

Garcia said personnel of the unit were temporarily barred from arresting violators of the jaywalking law.

He said MMDA traffic enforcers would continue apprehending jaywalkers.

The MMDA padlocked the office of the anti-jaywalking unit following the arrest of Joanna Eclarinal, deputy chief of the unit, who allegedly issued a fake receipt to a traffic violator on Monday.

Garcia said an MMDA cashier noticed the fake receipt when the traffic violator got clearance after payment of fines.

He said Eclarinal admitted they were doing the illegal transactions in connivance with Jonathan Natividad, operations admininistrative staff, and property custodian Frederick Arucan.

Charges of falsification of public documents have been filed against Eclarinal before the Makati prosecutor’s office.

The NBI has launched a manhunt for Natividad and Arucan.

Garcia said traffic violators should pay fines only at the MMDA cashier’s office. 

Galang denied any involvement in the racket.

“I had nothing to do with that. I will cooperate in the probe,” he told reporters. 

Galang appealed to Natividad and Arucan to surrender.