THE woman who assaulted a traffic enforcer after she was intercepted over a traffic violation has tested positive for illegal drugs, the Manila Police District Special Mayor’s Reaction Team (MPD-Smart) said.

Pauline Altamirano, who has been taken into custody, has been charged with direct assault and driving without a license.

Colonel Rosalino Ibay, MPD-Smart chief, said they also found methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in her bag, prompting them to conduct follow-up operations and arrest Altamirano’s companions, identified as Rendor Sanchez, Jason Dela Cruz and Marlon de Guzman.

All three also tested positive for illegal drugs and yielded several grams of illegal drugs, Ibay said.

Altamirano and the three men will also be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Manila traffic enforcers flagged down the vehicle driven by Altamirano on Thursday, May 27, 2021, for ignoring a red traffic light in Malate, Manila.

Altamirano, however, sped away, prompting enforcers to chase her. When the enforcers caught up to her, Altamirano failed to present a driver’s license and instead presented the vehicle’s official receipt/certificate of registration.

A video of the incident that circulated on social media showed Altamirano striking an enforcer at least twice when the latter refused to give the OR/CR back to her as standard operating procedure.

Altamirano also collared the enforcer, and alternated between pleading with him and shouting at him.

She was taken into custody and brought to the police station while the vehicle was towed to Manila’s impounding area.

Altamirano said she was bringing the shabu to her Chinese suitor to to exchange it for kush. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)