MMDA goes after passenger jeeps playing loud music

MANILA, Philippines - After colorum buses and FX taxis, passenger jeepneys with blaring sounds are the new “apple of the eye" of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, QTV’s Balitanghali newscast reported Thursday. The television report said 17 radios, aside from equalizers and speakers were seized from jeepneys in a surprise inspection conducted at Aurora Boulevard and EDSA in Cubao, Quezon City. The MMDA conducted the inspection after receiving numerous complaints from passengers and motorists on the disturbance caused by loud speakers in jeepneys. The report said passengers complained that, most of the time, drivers fail to drop them at their destination because of the loud sound from the radio. There were also times that the driver speeds off even before a passenger could step out of the vehicle. Further, the MMDA received reports of accidents because the jeepney driver failed to hear another vehicle’s warning signal. The television report said that during the inspection, most of the drivers readily surrendered their radios while others refused, insisting that they did not violate any law. The report said the drivers could get their radios back after paying a P1,000 fine. The surprise inspection snarled traffic in the area which earned the ire of some of the passengers. Promptly, a militant transport group scored the MMDA for lack of due process in implementing its rules. “Dapat may due process. Kung may ordinansa ang MMDA na ganun sa malakas magpatugtog ay tiketan nila ng kaukulang kaso, pero di dapat kumpiskahin yung radio at equipment," said George San Mateo, secretary general of Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston). (There should be a due process. If the MMDA indeed has an ordinance against blaring sounds in public vehicles, it should give the driver a violation ticket but should not confiscate the radio and similar equipment.) He added the MMDA cannot be the prosecutor, judge and executioner at the same time as under a Supreme Court ruling it does not have a police power “MMDA is abusing its mandate. It is pretending to be some sort of regional government, which it is not. It is only a coordinating agency," San Mateo said. He added the MMDA’s actuation is like kidnapping for ransom by confiscating the radio equipment and letting the driver pay before getting it back. - GMANews.TV