A Reminder To The Mandaluyong City Traffic Police: FIX YOUR TRAFFIC SIGNS!

This story that I am about to share to you happened way back in August of 2012, and I originally wrote it for Cool Fast Wheels. I shared it to you here in Pinoy Loves Wheels because just early this morning I was able to read James Deakin's article from the Philippine Star entitled "Towing the Line at the Fort". It seems like there are lots of unjust happenings in the Philippine traffic system. So here's my piece of the rotten cake:

Will you be able to see that, right away?! THINK ABOUT IT, T.O. PATRICK PUNZALAN!

When a BIG CAR PASSES BY, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE NO LEFT TURN SIGN! THINK ABOUT IT, MANDALUYONG TRAFFIC OFFICERS especially to T.O. PATRICK PUNZALAN!

Just a couple of weeks ago, I was driving at Mandaluyong City to bring my sister to the MRT. As I drive around the Addition Hills to find my way out to Shaw Blvd., I found Torres, a street that will lead me to Shaw Boulevard. As I exit Torres, I turned left to Shaw, then there is this traffic enforcer who flagged me down. When he approached me, I asked him nicely, “what seems to be the problem, sir?” Then he replied, “you turned left at a No Left Turn area, sir”. Then I answered back, “what?! where the heck is the No Left Turn sign? I didn’t see any No Left Turn sign, and there’s a big truck who passed by, I told you, I didn’t see any No Left Turn sign.” Then he answered back to me, “No matter what is your excuse, sir I must issue you a ticket”.

Being in my sleeping clothes, and leaving my cellphone with a contact no. to my lawyer behind, I had no choice but to surrender him my license very pissed. I asked T.O. Punzalan, the traffic officer who issued me a ticket, when can I get my license back, he told me to go to the Mandaluyong City Hall at 4 in the afternoon that very same day to pick-it up and pay 500 pesos for the violation’s fine.

I left T.O. Patrick Punzalan freaking mad  because I wasn’t given any justice at all–he didn’t listen to my explanation that I didn’t see the No Left Turn sign, and I am not familiar with the place.

After dropping my sister off at the MRT, I returned to Torres st. and searched for the No Left Turn sign, and just as what I’ve had expected, the sign is not visible right away, it is HIDDEN! Motorists who are unfamiliar with the place will surely get caught by unjust Traffic Officers of the Mandaluyong Police. I am badly hurt, and definitely got more pissed. It’s a good thing I was able to control myself, and didn’t do anything bad to T.O. Patrick Punzalan. THE PICTURES CAN TELL THAT THE NO LEFT TURN SIGN IS HIDDEN!

I am driving for 11 years now, and I am strictly abiding by city traffic rules. I admit, I do defy traffic law sometimes, but it’s only when I violate speed limits on our expressways to give proper exercise to our car–it is healthy for a car’s engine to go flat out sometimes. This incident gave me my first traffic ticket since I started to drive on the streets of Manila in 2001, and it hurts me so much because the ticket was issued without justice. I spent 500 pesos for a traffic ticket that I DON’T DESERVE, I may understand if it’s a speeding ticket at one of our expressways, but it’s NOT!

Can you see the sign clearly?!  NOT

And here’s another thing, I went to the TPMO of the Mandaluyong City hall at 4 in the afternoon of the very same day that the ticket was issued to me, but Punzalan, didn’t turn over my license that day, which made me more mad again. That traffic officer promised me that I can get my license in the afternoon, but he didn’t keep his word. I was able to get my license back the following week, what a waste of time for a traffic violation that I didn’t do on purpose.

I will let this go for now, as I have no time to go to court to formally protest this unjust traffic violation that was filed against me. But, please, to the Mandaluyong Traffic Police, make all your traffic signs visible to the eye of every motorists! And train all your traffic officers to keep their words! Traffic Officer Punzalan wasted my time and money for transportation when I went to the TPMO on the time he said I have to go, but didn’t get my license! That was unbecoming an officer! I know that ignorance of your ordinance is not an excuse, but it is YOUR DUTY TO KEEP US, THE MOTORING PUBLIC, INFORMED ABOUT THE MANDALUYONG CITY TRAFFIC LAW.

Hidden in the bushes! What the?!