An Irish national residing in Quezon City was arrested after allegedly damaging a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) tow truck while authorities were impounding his illegally parked vehicle during a road clearing operation, police said.

According to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), MMDA personnel were conducting a regular clearing operation along Regalado Avenue near Dahlia Street in Quezon City on July 8 when they found an unattended sports utility vehicle (SUV) illegally parked along the roadside.

Traffic enforcers issued a citation ticket for illegal parking and ordered the vehicle to be towed to the MMDA impounding facility in Marikina City.

Police said the SUV had already been secured to the tow truck when its owner suddenly arrived. Angered by the towing operation, the suspect allegedly boarded the vehicle and repeatedly drove it forward and backward in an attempt to free it from the tow truck's clamp.

When he failed to detach the SUV, the suspect reportedly got out, grabbed a hammer and repeatedly struck the tow truck, causing damage to the government vehicle.

The incident was reported by barangay officials to the Fairview Police Station 5, whose responding officers arrested the suspect.

The Irish national now faces a complaint for malicious mischief resulting in damage to property.

Separately, MMDA Chairman Romando "Don" Artes said he had directed the agency's Legal and Legislative Service to file a separate complaint before the Bureau of Immigration seeking the foreign national's deportation over the incident.

The MMDA has intensified road clearing operations across Metro Manila as part of efforts to enforce traffic regulations and remove illegally parked vehicles that obstruct traffic flow.