MMDA Chief penalizes erring personnel

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino (Facebook photo)

MANILA  — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino on Monday dismissed from the service three personnel and suspended 23 others from the agency’s Traffic Discipline Office (TDO) for various irregularities.

The three traffic constables were terminated from the service for extortion, grave misconduct, and gross neglect of duty.

“Let this serve as a serious warning to all our erring personnel. We will continue to eliminate the rotten eggs from our agency,” Tolentino said.

“This is part of our regular efforts to cleanse our ranks. We will never tolerate any wrongdoing from our employees,” he added.

The MMDA Chief also said that 23 others were meted suspension ranging from 15 to 90 days for a number of infractions committed such as extortion activities, questionable issuance of traffic violation receipts, misconduct, grave abuse of authority, insubordination, violation of office rules, and failure to attend monthly formation.

He added that 50 more were issued stern warnings / reprimands for the same violations. Among these, three were formally charged.

According to Tolentino, these erring personnel were given due process and formal investigations were conducted by the agency’s Administrative and Legal departments in relation to the cases they are involved in.

>“I am encouraging the public to continue their vigilance and report to us any illegal activities involving our employees, and at the same time appreciate and commend honest and hardworking employees, which comprise the majority” Tolentino said.