MANILA Mayor Isko Moreno directed Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) chief Dennis Viaje to make sure that the suspect who shot a traffic enforcer in Tondo will be brought to justice at the soonest possible time.

Moreno gave the directive after he and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna led the inauguration of the drive-thru vaccination drive in Luneta on Saturday.

The mayor told Viaje to coordinate with all authorities necessary to ensure the suspect is identified, arrested and charged accordingly.

Moreno stressed that the enforcer was merely carrying out his functions and did not deserve what happened to him.

According to Viaje, the victim had been with the MTPB since Moreno assumed office and had no derogatory record.

It will be recalled that on Friday, traffic enforcer Mark Macmalen, 45,was nearly killed after being shot repeatedly by a male motorist whom he pursued for a hit-and-run violation in Tondo, Manila at around 11 :39 a.m.

Macmalen was said to be manning traffic when the suspect, aboard a brown, plateless Mitsubishi Lancer, hit a biker and then sped off, as the biker fell to the ground. While escaping, the suspect hit along the way an e-trike and a motorcycle, among others.

Thus, Macmalen pursued the fleeing suspect and used his motorcycle to block the latter’s path, as the vehicle reached Mel Lopez Boulevard (formerly Road 10).

The suspect got off his vehicle, shot the victim four times at close range, abandoned his car, then sped off using the victim’s motorcycle.

Viaje said the victim was even shot in the head but was fortunate enough to have just suffered a graze wound. The other three bullets hit the victim in the shoulder, stomach and near his right armpit and Viaje said the enforcer is lucky to be alive since the shots he took did not hit any vital organs.

Macmalen remains under observation at the Tondo General Hospital while the suspect’s identity is yet to be established.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Itchie G. Cabayan