Motorist’s Facebook post leads to immediate dismissal of Cainta traffic aide

Cainta, Rizal Mayor Keith Nieto has fired a traffic enforcer who was caught extorting money from a motorist he accused of violating traffic rules.

"May nadaanan akong post ngayong araw, nirereklamo ang isang enforcer natin, nangikil daw," Nieto said.

"Pinatawag ko ang in charge ng town security. Umamin ang enforcer, humingi daw siya ng 500 pesos pero 250 daw ang binigay. Labas ang order. Terminated ang enforcer ora mismo. Hindi tayo gagalangin kung di tayo aayos," the mayor added.

The motorist said the enforcer caught him for swerving and told him he would be fined P2,500 for the violation. He claimed that the erring traffic enforcer then asked him to pay P500.

"Shoutout sa nanghuli sa akin, swerving ang violation ko 2,500 daw ang babayaran sa munisipyo nila pero pag nagbibigay daw sila sa penalty 500 daw pero di na titicketan. Ask ko lang po kung may ganun ba talaga sa Cainta para clear lang sa isipan ko. Salamat!" he said in a Facebook post.

In a letter to Mayor Nieto dated 21 November, Constancio Daga Jr., officer in charge of One Cainta Town Security, asked the mayor to terminate the traffic enforcer due to serious violation of departmental and organizational policies.

On 20 November, the Traffic Department received and verified reports alleging that the employee engaged in extortion. A preliminary inquiry found sufficient basis to confirm that the traffic enforcer's actions constituted gross misconduct and a breach of ethical standards.