BACOLOD City – A total of six traffic enforcers of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) were terminated following corruption complaints.
Jose Antonio Robello, deputy head of the BTAO, told the media yesterday, January 3, that three enforcers were terminated effective December 31, 2024 and the three others were removed from their posts six months ago.
The said traffic enforcers were job orders who had been working for BTAO for about five years.
Robello said that before the termination, the aforementioned were warned that the office under the leadership of Patrick Lacson never tolerates corruption.
The termination stemmed from complaints received by BTAO that the said traffic enforcers were demanding money from several individuals in exchange for not apprehending them for traffic violations.
The BTAO deputy head hopes that the termination of the six traffic enforcers will serve as a stern warning to others.
“We are always reminding the traffic enforcers not to involve themselves in corruption in performing their duties and responsibilities,” he added.
Recently, BTAO said an anonymous netizen posted on social media a photo of a BTAO traffic enforcer, claiming that he collected an amount of P1,000 for a truck ban violation without issuing a citation ticket.
Robello said he tried but could not reach the said netizen. He wanted to encourage him to file a formal complaint at the BTAO so that it will be acted accordingly.
Meanwhile, the traffic enforcer involved confirmed to Robello that he was the person in the photo but denied collecting money from the violator.
Robello said the involved traffic enforcer was transferred to another location in Barangay Mandalagan and was later reassigned to Bangga Ramos./PN
