THREE potential suspects in the mauling of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority personnel who were conducting clearing operations last Sunday have been identified by the Pasay City police.
Pasay police chief Col. Cesar Gablin Paday-os said they were able to identify the suspects after interviewing MMDA personnel and several witnesses.
“We have already obtained a statement from the victims and witnesses and, so far, we have identified three personalities there,” Paday-os told radio station DZBB.
He did not name the three but said they are continuing their investigation to identify the other suspects who were caught in a viral video attacking and mauling the MMDA personnel.
“Our identification continues for those in the viral video,” Paday-os added. “We are preparing the documents for the filing of the case.”
The MMDA earlier said six of its personnel were hurt in the incident, including a retired soldier and senior citizen who were part of the agency’s road clearing group.
The six were identified as Jose Zabala, Adrian Nidua, Jericho Fabella, Mario Martin, Jimmy Valencia, and Eddie Boy Garas.
The melee started when an MMDA personnel apprehended an e-trike driver and impounded his vehicle for committing a traffic violation.
Several companions of the e-trike driver tried to retrieve the e-trike from the agency tow truck but the enforcers stopped them, leading to a heated argument that led to men beating two MMDA enforcers.
They also tried to beat other MMDA enforcers who tried to intervene.
In a related development, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said “around seven maulers” of their agency personnel have been identified.
