THE traffic enforcer allegedly slapped by councilor Zaldy Ocon said he is determined to press charges against Ocon even if the latter decides to apologize.
Traffic enforcer Ric Emmanuel Agustin said he is determined to file charges to teach Ocon a lesson and to avoid making the incident a precedent that will make his fellow traffic enforcers vulnerable to the excesses of persons in power.
"Kung mag sorry siya ok ra kay tawo ra baya ta pero padayon gihapon ang kaso kay ang tendency pwede napud siya managpa (I can forgive him if he says sorry but I will still pusue the case because there’s a tendency that he’d slap someone again)," Agustin said.
Agustin was slapped by Ocon inside the City Council session hall last December 1 after the former, along with Task Force Hapsay Dalan chair Attorney Edgardo Uy and Engineer Nonito Oclarit of the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA), confronted Ocon regarding a traffic violation earlier in the day.
"Wala na gyud ni atrasan kay dili ko gusto nga ma-experience sa akong mga kauban nga pwede ra diay dayon ang areglo (There's no turning back now because I don't want my workmates to experience the same thing that it can be settled easily)," Agustin added.
Agustin said he will not allow fear to prevent him from facing Ocon in any forum as he maintained he was just doing his job.
Agustin and fellow traffic aide Barry Felicilda had issued Ocon a traffic citation ticket for an illegal parking violation along Yacapin-Guillermo Streets.
Agustin also belied Ocon's claims that he was arrogant and discourteous and said he was conscious of showing respect as he recognized Ocon as an elected public official of the city.
"Kaila man ko nga siya si kagawad ug ngano mag-arogante man lugar ko (I know he’s a government official why would I be arrogant?)," Agustin said.
Agustin said it was Ocon who was arrogant when the latter crumpled the citation ticket and threatened him to kick him out of the RTA.
"Ingon siya 'Zaldy Ocon ko' and giingnan nako siya nga pwede mani ma-settle sa opisina sa RTA. Paglakaw niya gisingitan ko niya nga iya kong tangtangon sa RTA (He said ‘I’m Zaldy Ocon’ and I told him this can be settled in RTA office. When he left, he threatened to have me removed in RTA)," Agustin said.
"Duha akong blotter sa November 30 after ko niya gisinggitan nga tangtangon ko sa trabaho ug sa December 1 katong after ko niya gisagpa (I had two blotters on November 30 first he threatened to remove me from my job on December 1, seconf is for slapping me)," Agustin added.
The enforcer said Uy and Oclarit are looking for lawyers who would handle the case.
Agustin is set to file administrative charges before the ombudsman and criminal case at the City Prosecutor’s Office once the complaint affidavit is finished.
Agustin is saddened that Uy and the entire RTA have been bombarded by Ocon for the failure to solve traffic problem.
Agustin said replacing Uy as RTA overseer is not the solution to the city’s traffic woes.
He said it is Ocon who should leave his post as traffic aides and RTA executives are doing their very best to ease traffic woes.
Agustin is also asking City Mayor Oscar Moreno to help him get justice.
"Akong panawagan kang Mayor nga ma-paspas ni nga proseso og matagaan mi og hustisya (I’m asking for the Mayor to hasten the process and give us justice)," Agustin said.
