The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has issued a serious warning on one of its traffic enforcers for not wearing a face mask while on duty following a complaint by a private citizen.
Based on the complaint posted by a private individual on Facebook, a photo showed that Traffic Aide 2 Lucas Alcaraz Jr. was not wearing a face mask while on duty manning a checkpoint along the Alabang-Zapote Road in Barangay Almanza Uno, Las Piñas City.
“MMDA immediately took action on the complaint.”
MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said the agency immediately took action on the said complaint.
Lim ordered the agency’s Traffic Discipline Office to conduct a thorough investigation.
Alcaraz admitted that he was the person shown on the photos, adding that the reason why he had failed to wear his face mask or face shield was because he had left it at an where he last ate.
“A repetition of the same offense shall be dealt with more severely.
“This act and/or omission of Alcaraz is a violation of the directive of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseasse that it is now mandatory for individuals leaving their residences to purchase basic goods or attend to emergencies to wear any type of face mask while the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine is in effect due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis,” the MMDA chief cited in a memorandum.
He also warned Alcaraz that a repetition of the same offense will be dealt with more severity.
Aside from the warning, Alcaraz was also issued a citation ticket for violating Las Piñas City Ordinance No. 1689-20 (series of 2020) which orders the mandatory wearing of face masks at public places and was ordered to pay the corresponding fine.