AFTER being dragged into the controversial EDSA buslane incident, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority general manager General Nicolas Torre III is seriously considering the idea of retiring from public service.
According to MMDA chairman Don, Artes Torre has already volunteered to take a one-month leave to spare the MMDA from the controversy involving an MMDA-marked patrol vehicle that used the EDSA Busway.
By his own admission, Artes said that he actually wanted to keep Torre in the MMDA, but “behind the curtain.”
“May isa akong task na pinapagawa sa kanya… then he asked me kung okay lang na siya yung gumawa ng trabaho at kung may tiwala pa ako sa kanya,” said Artes.
When asked how Torre responded, Artes said — “Ang naging sagot ko sa kanya hindi diretsong oo o hindi. Ang sabi ko sa kanya is just do the job but keep it low.”
It was then that Torre volunteered to take a two-week leave of absence, which was extended to one month to give him time to think about his plans, including his possible retirement from public service.
“Ang una niyang sinabi, ‘Sir, I’m planning to retire from public service.’ Ang una kong tugon sa kanya pag-isipan mo muna… wag ka mag pabigla-bigla, sabi ko sa kanya,” he averred.
While Artes recognized Torre’s important role in the agency’s day-to-day operations, the MMDA chairman confirmed that the markings and blinkers installed on Torre’s private SUV were not authorized by the agency.
In late August, a marked MMDA vehicle was caught on video using the EDSA Busway. Torre was riding in the vehicle.
He has since apologized but investigations yielded more controversies and violations. The MMDA-marked vehicle, which used a license plate assigned to a dump truck, is privately-owned.
As this developed, the MMDA has started looking for an officer-in-charge while Torre is on leave.
