Gabriel Go, head of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) Special Operations Group-Task Force for Road Clearing, called out an individual who appeared to urge motorists to violate a traffic signal to make way for a convoy.
On Monday, July 27, Go shared dascham footage on Facebook showing a man approaching a vehicle stopped at a red light.
The man, who was a riding a motorcycle with a white balloon attached it, stopped in the middle of a yellow box junction and repeatedly motioned for the driver to proceed despite the traffic signal.
When the driver did not move, the man directed his gestures toward vehicles in the adjacent lane. At least two vehicles followed his instructions and crossed the intersection against the red light.
The man then approached the dashcam-equipped vehicle and spoke with its driver.
“Sir, violation ‘yan!” the driver said after rolling down his window.
“Abante kasi merong convoy! Kanina ka pa, boss, eh!” the man replied, urging him to move forward.
The driver then pointed to the red traffic light and asked, “Sir, anong kulay ‘yan?”
“Wala akong pakialam diyan! Nakikiusap ako boss, oh!” the man responded.
“Ikaw magbabayad kapag na-violation ako?” the driver retorted, referring to the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), which uses cameras to detect traffic violations in Metro Manila.
“Nakikiusap nga, ‘di ba?!” the man answered.
“Violation ‘yan eh!” the driver replied.
The driver remained stopped and only proceeded after the traffic light turned green.
In his post, Go questioned the kind of convoy the man was referring to.
“Anong convoy ba ‘yan??? Nonetheless, kahit ano pa ‘yan, you do not have the right to act and talk that way! Buti sana kung emergency ‘yang convoy niyo, e mukha namang hindi!” he said in a Facebook post.
“Yung rider ng pulang motor should be sanctioned with a SCO [Show Cause Order] and suspension of driver’s license, Kuya Cong Francis Mallari,” Go added, referring to the man who urged the car driver to move forward.
Mallari is a road safety advocate.
Meanwhile, vehicles seen proceeding through the intersection despite the red traffic signal in the video could face sanctions for disregarding traffic signs under traffic regulations. First-time offenders may be fined P1,000.
Last June, a UV Express was also spotted proceeding through an intersection despite a red traffic signal.
