By VANNE ELAINE P. TERRAZOLA, with a report from Anna Liza Villas-Alavaren
A bus driver and a conductor were arrested for mauling two traffic enforcers from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) who accosted them for a traffic violation in Cubao, Quezon City, Monday afternoon.
Eddie Magangcong Jr., 38, and Kim Lester Padilla, 22, are now detained at the Cubao Police Station (PS-7) for assaulting MMDA traffic enforcers Roberto Supan and Rodel Abanil, around 3:30 p.m, Monday on EDSA northbound lane near P. Tuazon Boulevard in Barangay Socorro, Cubao.
Magangcong and Padilla, both residents of Sampaguita Street, Maligaya Park, Barangay Pasong Putik, are the driver and conductor, respectively, of a Metro Manila Bus Corporation bus plying SM Fairview-Baclaran route.
The road brawl was caught on viral videos posted by Facebook user Zaint Rayaj Ocampo an hour after the incident. The post was shared more than 37,000 times as of press time.
Police said the MMDA duo were directing traffic when they accosted the bus for violating a “No Loading and Unloading Zone.”
They asked Magangcong to surrender his driver’s license but instead of complying, he and Padilla reportedly alighted from the bus and attacked the enforcers.
An exhausted Supan was seen in the video wiping a wound.
The suspects then boarded the bus and locked the bus door. Before they could escape, the enforcers sought cops from the PS-7, resulting in their arrest.
Charges of direct assault will be filed against Magangcong and Padilla.
Following the incident, the MMDA appealed on motorists to respect traffic enforcers manning the roads.
Jojo Garcia, MMDA chief of staff, said traffic enforcers who are staying under the heat of the sun and rain to do their job well deserve respect.
“These men (traffic enforcers) are in uniform, are just fulfilling orders of MMDA chairman Danilo Lim to remove obstructions on the road that cause heavy traffic,” said Garcia.
