AN EFFECTIVE implementation of the law should neither be whimsical nor appalling, says a partylist congressman following a viral incident that saw a government enforcer ‘shaming’ a teacher over a traffic violation.
According to ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio, what Gabriel Go did was an “overkill” even as he took a swipe at the “ulterior motive” behind posting the apprehension on social media.
Go, who heads the special operations unit of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), posted the video which has since garnered 1.1 million views (as of this writing), on his personal social media account.
The unnamed teacher, who was caught driving his motorcycle without helmet, has admitted the infraction. He however pleaded to Go not to take video, which could adversely affect his job.
In response Go said “eh alam mo pala yun. Dapat hindi mo ginawa ang bawal. Teacher ka pa naman dapat mag set ka ng good example para sa mga estudyante mo.”
FOR MONETIZATION
Go’s personal post of the incident was widely applauded by some but earned the ire of human rights advocates and teachers’ organizations.
Tinio then assailed Go’s acts as a violation of the existing laws protecting one’s privacy — for fame and ‘monetization.’
The congressman also took a swipe at Go whom he claimed wasn’t wearing his uniform at the time of the MMDA operation. The video however proved otherwise.
The Teachers Dignity Coalition also lambasted Go for generalizing the education sector when he posted a comment alongside his art card of the ticketing incident—that those in the education sector are not excused from (abiding by) the rules, which the coalition said was a direct affront to the sector.
Tinio then demanded to MMDA chairman Romando Artez that Go be removed from his current post as head of the road clearing operations for showing no respect to ordinary citizens and teachers.
QUICK RESPONSE
Following Tinio’s call, the MMDA Chair went on television to announce the issuance of a show-cause order to Go in relation to the controversial apprehension that resulted in public condemnation.
According to Artez, Go clearly violated the MMDA policy which is to post all activities first in the MMDA official social media page before posting in their personal account.
The MMDA chief explained that the policy allows the agency to blur the face in the video and mute demeaning words before the person being accosted.
Artez however clarified that Go is not suspended from work — but barred from joining MMDA’s road clearing operations, which however would continue without him.
MORE COMPLAINTS
Artez said he also received a complaint from Manila Teachers Partylist Rep. Maria Francesca Lacson of the incident asking him to admonish Go.
As a lawyer himself, he knows that if an incident is on a public road and that there was a clear violation. Still he would consult with the Data Privacy Commission about the matter.
He said he allowed MMDA people to document via video their official activities to protect and defend themselves from harassment, verbal or physical assault by those being accosted and from public ridicule.