By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes said on Monday (April 15, 2024) that the P200,000 reward of Chavit Singson to MMDA officers will be considered as a donation and be placed in the general fund.

“Pupunta po ‘yan sa general fund ng MMDA, hindi po ‘yan idi-distribute sa partikular na tao… Iko-consider po ‘yan na donasyon sa ahensiya, not for a specific purpose,” Artes said in a press briefing.

Despite the donation, the MMDA official assured that there would be no exemption from being ticketed due to traffic violations.

“Wala pong strings attached ‘yan. Hindi ibig sabihin na tinanggap namin ‘yung donasyon ay pwede nang dumaan si Gov. Chavit sa busway. Wala po tayong ganoon. Wala pong exemption diyan. Kung ano lang po ‘yung ino-authorize ng DOTr na gumamit niyan, ‘yun pa rin po, regardless kung nagbigay po sa atin ng donasyon si Governeor ay wala pong special treatment,” Artes said.

Singson increased the amount of the incentive that he gave from P100,000 to P200,000 to the MMDA enforcers who issued violation tickets to his convoys for using busway lane.

The former Ilocos Sur governor also paid the violation tickets issued to his drivers and gave the cash prize worth P200,000 on Monday.

(el Amigo)