MMDA to investigate incident of personnel 'humiliating' teacher for not wearing helmet
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has launched an investigation into an incident involving one of its personnel who allegedly humiliated a school teacher during an apprehension for not wearing a motorcycle helmet.
In a statement, the agency said that it has been made aware of a video where Special Operations Group–Strike Force head Gabriel Go could be seen flagging a teacher for not wearing a helmet.
"Halika dito, tatakbo pa eh," he said as he approached the motorist.
After learning about his profession as a teacher, Go said, "Teacher ka tapos wala kang helmet? Paano naman natin tuturuan ang ating mga estudyante kung ganoon?"
Noticing that he is being filmed, the teacher asked Go not to post the video online, to which he replied, "Blurred ka naman eh. Huwag ka na lang magpapakilala ng pangalan mo."
"Dapat inisip niyo muna ’yan bago kayo gumawa ng mali," he added.
The video, which was posted on Go's Facebook account, has received more than 50,000 reactions as of writing.
Social media users offered varying opinions on what happened, with some defending Go's actions as part of enforcing traffic laws, while others criticized him for allegedly shaming the teacher and posting the encounter on social media despite the latter's request.
"Ang pag-blur ng mukha ay hindi awtomatikong nangangahulugang wala nang privacy issue. Kung makikilala pa rin ang teacher dahil sa boses, damit, sasakyan, plate number, lugar, pangalan ng school, caption, o iba pang detalye, maaari pa rin siyang ituring na identifiable," one user wrote.
Another commented, "I admire your initiative in enforcing the law, but I think the way you speak is already bordering on arrogance. If you say that teachers should be good examples to their students, in the same manner, public servants should also show respect to motorists when apprehending for a violation."
Following the incident, the MMDA said that they have received letters from various groups regarding Go's actions.
"Rest assured that we are conducting an investigation as to Mr. Go's liability, and he was asked to explain his side in formal writing through a show cause order," they said.
"His participation in clearing operations is currently held in abeyance pending the result of the investigation," they added.
Wearing helmets while driving is mandated under Republic Act No. 10054. Any person caught not wearing the standard protective motorcycle helmet will be punished with a fine of P1,500 for the first offense; P3,000 for the second offense; P5,000 for the third offense; and P10,000 plus confiscation of the driver's license for the fourth and succeeding offenses.
