"Taga-Barangay ako!" Motorcycle Incident

[runts]

Hi everyone.

This incident happened last March pa. Thought of posting it to share with you guys the incident that happened to me. This is an incident that shows that working for the Barangay makes you exempted from any accidents/violations/traffic laws. This is how our "Public Servants" treat us Taxpayers.

Below is the report that I sent to their Barangay Relations Officer (Barangay Poblacion,Makati) Ompie Beliarez. Up until this day, I never heard from him or anyone from Barangay Poblacion or the Mayor's office.

[SIZE=3]Dear Mr. Beliarez:
[/SIZE] [SIZE=3] Last March 14, a vehicular accident/incident occurred which involved a person who claimed to be one of your personnel at Barangay Poblacion. At around 12:00 noon, I was driving along Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia Avenue) with my friend. We stopped and were waiting at the intersection of Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue and Ayala Avenue, when suddenly I was startled when I heard something hit the side of my car, a Black Honda City. I then saw that a motorcycle rider named Joel A. Garcia (Motorcycle Plate No. 6599 NI) had hit my left side mirror; the force was so strong that my side mirror was bent completely in the opposite direction. When I saw that Joel A. Garcia was about to drive away, I kept honking my car horn to call him back and to try to call the attention of any traffic police who might be near the area. This is when Mr. Garcia backed up and tried to fix my side mirror by pushing it back to its normal position. When I brought down my window, he immediately said “Maliit lang naman (as he was pointing to the damage). Pasensiya na. Taga-Barangay ako Ma’am, kasama ako sa escort.” I answered back “Ano ngayon kung taga-Barangay ka? Mag-ingat ka naman kasi sana.” This exchange went on with him repeatedly pointing out that he was from the barangay and he was part of the escort. Apparently, he, together with some other barangay personnel were escorting a motorcade of a newly opened pizza chain (New York Pizza Palace).

[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Besides the fact that Mr. Joel A. Garcia refused to take responsibility for the damage caused to my car’s side mirror, what really irked us was that instead of apologizing or making amends for the damage, Mr. Joel A. Garcia just kept insisting that he was with the Barangay.

[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]When the stoplight turned green, he drove off away from our vehicle, I immediately accelerated and blocked his pathway. When he finally stopped, we were near an intersection. I was pressing my car horn to call the attention of a nearby MAPA Enforcer who was busy at the pedestrian crossing. While the enforcer was walking towards us, I asked Garcia for his Driver’s License. He refused, and again kept saying that he was with the barangay. I told him that he had hit and damaged my car, so I had every right to ask for his Driver’s License since he was the one at fault. Mr. Joel A. Garcia then admitted that he did not have his Driver’s License on him, and that it was with his superior. (Joel) Garcia said he only had his Barangay ID. I then insisted that he just give me his barangay I.D., but he then handed me his Cruzers Motorcycle Club ID. I immediately photographed his ID just in case he tried to run away AGAIN.

[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]As this was happening, the MAPA enforcer finally arrived at our spot, I immediately told him, “Binangga niya ako. Taga-Barangay daw siya at wala siyang mapakitang lisensya sa akin. Hindi ba bawal mag-maneho ng walang lisensya?” The enforcer did not answer, which makes me think that he was taking sides since he was not taking action. While this was happening, a Mr. Anthony Brian Go came over with another Barangay staff. He introduced himself and asked what happened. As I was recounting to him what happened, Mr. (Joel) Garcia kept interrupting, saying that it was just a small damage. Mr. (Anthony Brian) Go got annoyed with Garcia and told him to back off. So (Joel) Garcia backed up his motorcycle, which hit my vehicle AGAIN. This clearly showed how reckless Garcia is in his motorcyle.

[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Though Mr. Anthony Brian Go apologized for Joel Garcia, this does not lessen the seriousness of the situation nor does it release Joel A. Garcia from any responsibility or liability. I asked Mr. Anthony Brian Go to write down the name of his superior and his contact details. We told Mr. Go how rude and impolite Mr. Joel A. Garcia was when talking to us. I even told him that if (Joel) Garcia had just apologized properly and did not try to drive away, we would not be having this conversation. Please note however, that none of the MAPA and Barangay people even bothered to call in the Makati Traffic Police so that I could get a Police Report issued for the damage to my car. Isn’t this supposed to be standard procedure when an accident occurs?

[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]I would like to know if this kind of behavior is tolerated by Barangay Poblacion. Are Barangay personnel permitted to drive around without a Driver’s License? Just because Joel A. Garcia is connected with Barangay Poblacion, does that automatically exempt him from the Philippine laws and LTO regulations which are strictly implemented and enforced with other motorists? As public servants, shouldn’t all government / Barangay employees be expected to follow and uphold the law, and set the example for others to follow? Does being a Barangay employee give Mr. Joel A. Garcia the right to drive around recklessly with no license? What if he hits a pedestrian? Can he just drive away from an accident simply because he’s with the Barangay?

[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Makati City is the premier business district of the Philippines. I believe that it upholds the highest standards of work ethics and public service, and will not tolerate this kind of behavior among its people. Unfortunately, incidents such as this tarnishes that image. For the sake of public safety and genuine public service, I hope that you will enforce stricter policies and apply corrective measures when handling erring Barangay personnel and motorcycle motorists so that incidents like this will not happen again. As for Mr. Joel Garcia, I believe that appropriate disciplinary actions and administrative sanctions are in order. [/SIZE]

-
On March 14, 2011, Motorcycle rider Mr. Joel A Garcia, member of the Cruzers Motorcycle Club of Barangay Poblacion, Makati City, hit and damaged my car’s side mirror (left side), attempted to leave the scene of the incident, and was found to be driving without a Driver’s License.

Anthony Brian Go, Staff of Barangay Poblacion Makati City was witness to the incident.

The Makati Police was not called and No Police Report was made despite the presence of a MAPA Traffic Enforcer.

Below are the photos of their ID's.

[burjegol]

Runts,

Mag rant ka na mag rant. Ibahin mo ito. Makati ito. Kita mo nga, di sila sumusunod sa mga national codes and governing laws kasi meron sila sariling laws. Makati iyan, ibahin mo. Makati iyan (sarap kamutin)

[oliver1013]

Mukha palang mukhang ungasus na eh. Sa kabila pulis naman ang sira ulo, dito naman taga barangay. Pwede ba anyayahan si Tulfo or any media person dito sa thread? Andaming pwede gawing topic sa kanilang programa.

[runts]

*burjegol: I get your point. May sarili nga talaga silang mundo dun. Pero point ko lang po din ay ganun na pala talaga ngayon, ginagamit na ang authority/pwesto sa government bilang exemption. Regardless po kung saan lugar siya, pero what if nakabangga siya ng tao, okay lang dahil taga-barangay siya? Automatic na iniisip nila na just because sa gobyerno sila, exempted na sila.

*oliver1013: Sana nga pwedeng invite dito. Sasakit ulo niya sa mga reklamo dito sa forum.

[jave]

99% of baranggay tanods are power-tripping aholes no different from your usual neighborhood bully. He kept repeating "taga Baranggay ako" because he thinks that just by that you'd back off.

To be honest, you have it lucky to deal with baranggay personnel in such a relatively decent manner. Others have fared worse. They usually side with their own constituents even if said constituent is clearly in the wrong and sometimes, call upon the power of the mob just to scare off an "outsider" that's clearly in the right.

Like, for instance, that imbecile tanod that pinned the blame on a relative in the latter's argument with a slightly drunk constituent that blocked the road with his stupid underbone. He claims "Eh minura mo kasi eh!" to my relative despite the fact that the drunken idiot was more aggressive and threw more insults.

[ozcity]

baranggay staff pa lang yan ha...lol..abusado na..

[miked]

Mukha palang mukhang ungasus na eh. Sa kabila pulis naman ang sira ulo, dito naman taga barangay. Pwede ba anyayahan si Tulfo or any media person dito sa thread? Andaming pwede gawing topic sa kanilang programa.

how about tsikot having a direct communication or some type of link with the media esp. Tulfo & Imbestigador for cases like these to expose some "unwanted in the society". just an idea mods.

[vinj]

Classic sample of how overburdened our govenrment is with useless, excess baggage. Irony is public servants have done nothing but serve themselves and their fellow kanto boys. This is where our taxes go and i'll bet he got gassed up by the barangay for his escort services.

Cruzers Motor Cycle Club FTW!!!

[JJGF]

baranggay staff pa lang yan ha...lol..abusado na..

dito nga sir mga tanod lang akala mo sila may ari ng lugar.. mga siga

[miked]

dito nga sir mga tanod lang akala mo sila may ari ng lugar.. mga siga

at naka full battle uniform pa! san ka pah!