MMDA to sue bus personnel who mauled its men

A passenger bus. INQUIRER.net file photo.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is bent on filing charges against the bus driver and conductor who attacked three traffic constables for apprehending them on Edsa on Monday.

Jojo Garcia, MMDA chair Danilo Lim’s chief of staff, said on Tuesday that while they accepted the apology offered by Metro Manila Bus Corp. driver Eddie Magangcong Jr. and conductor Kim Lester Padilla, the two would still be charged with direct assault and disobedience to persons in authority.

Around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Magangcong was flagged down on the northbound lane of Edsa near P. Tuazon Boulevard in Cubao, for letting off passengers in a no loading/unloading zone.

Garcia said that instead of surrendering his license, Magangcong alighted from the bus and struck MMDA traffic constable Roberto Supan. Two other MMDA enforcers in the area, Francisco Apostol and Rodel Abanil, came to Supan’s aid but the pair turned on them too.

Part of the incident was captured by a bystander on video which Lim uploaded on social media.

Police later arrested the pair who had locked themselves inside the bus following the incident. Supan, on the other hand, had to seek treatment for injuries on his neck.

Aileen Lizada, board member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, said that they were already verifying the bus firm’s franchise. The company would also be asked to explain why its accreditation should not be revoked. – Jovic Yee