DOTr lauds enforcer who shunned bribe attempt in EDSA busway

MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday lauded a traffic enforcer who refused a bribe offered by a motorist caught in violation of the EDSA carousel busway.

In a statement, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said Jennifer Salen, an officer of the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) is an “exemplary model” for other traffic officers for refusing to be bribed.

“I commend I-ACT officer Jennifer Salen for her display of outstanding integrity after a traffic violator tried to test her through bribery,” Bautista said.

In a video taken by Salen on Monday, a driver she apprehended was seen offering her a wad of cash.

She refused the bribe and said “kung kinuha ko ‘yan dagdag pa ‘yan sa violation mo (if I accepted that I would’ve added it to your violation).”

The driver further tried to argue but she ignored his pleas and took his driver’s license.

She admonished the driver for the bribery attempt and said that not all enforcers would accept an offer.

In a Viber message, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the driver who made the bribery attempt had been turned over to the police for investigation.

Bautista also gave his support to the MMDA’s implementation of the increased penalties for violators of the EDSA busway, and encouraged the public to use public transportation to avoid traffic in the busy thoroughfare.

On Monday, the MMDA and I-ACT began the first day of implementation of increased penalties at the EDSA busway.

Instead of paying PHP1,000 per violation, those caught will instead face a PHP5,000 fine for a first offense, PHP10,000 for a second offense and a month’s license suspension, PHP20,000 for a third offense and a year’s license suspension, and PHP30,000 and a recommendation for permanent license revocation at the LTO for a fourth offense. (PNA)