METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Romando Artes yesterday defended the agency’s re-hiring of Gabriel Go, the head of the Special Operations Group Strike Force.
Go resigned after an MMDA lady traffic enforcer complained of sexual advances made by Go.
Artes also said the MMDA took the recent incident involving Go, in which he ticketed a Quezon City policeman for parking on the sidewalk, “seriously and with full accountability.”
Artes said a show cause order has also been issued against Go for him to explain his actions in the incident where he berated Capt. Erik Felipe.
Senator JV Ejercito, in a Facebook post on Monday, said the lady traffic enforcer was relieved from her post due to the sexual harassment case.
“Mr. Go resigned from our agency in June 2023 and was rehired in November of the same year. At the time of his rehiring, no case had been filed against him. No formal or sworn complaint, nor any supporting documentation related to the matter, was submitted to the MMDA committee on decorum and investigation,” Artes said.
He added: “We have talked to Senator Ejercito regarding his post and we are providing a clarification regarding the matter involving Mr. Go, particularly the complaint of a lady traffic enforcer.”
Ejercito and National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Ralph Calinisan also criticized Go’s behavior towards the police officer, which they described as “overbearing and disrespectful.”
“We, the officials of MMDA, consistently remind all our employees that we are public servants and that we should treat everyone with respect and utmost courtesy. Even in times of aggression, we exercise maximum tolerance and compassion,” Artes said.
“However, we are only human. We get tired, and sometimes, our zealousness in enforcing the traffic laws gets the best of us,” he added.
The MMDA chief said Go is a dedicated MMDA enforcer and that if he committed a mistake, the agency will accord him due process and penalize him as justified.
“Doing our job is challenging and most of the time frustrating, but this is not an excuse to violate our policies or protocols. Our commitment to serving the public must remain unwavering amid difficulties and adverse public reactions,” Artes added.
He also apologized to Felipe and his family for what had happened.
He added that the MMDA has also reached out to the top officials of the PNP, the Napolcom, and the QCPD regarding the issue.
“We all agreed that this isolated incident will not, in any way, tarnish our good relationship, and that we shall maintain coordination, mutual respect, and cooperation between our organizations,” Artes said.
