A TRAFFIC enforcer has accused Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Zaldy Ocon of slapping him inside the City Council session hall Thursday morning, December 1.
Roads and Traffic Administration traffic enforcer Ric Emmanuel Agustin, 23, said Ocon slapped him in a meeting at the session hall to settle Ocon’s supposed traffic violation.
Agustin was with Task Force Hapsay Dalan chairman lawyer Edgardo Uy and Engineer Nonito Oclarit of the RTA to clarify and settle the traffic rules allegedly violated by Ocon earlier in the day but the latter suddenly smacked Agustin’s right cheek.
Agustin, who was assigned at Yacapin-Guillermo Streets, Cagayan de Oro City, had issued Ocon a traffic citation ticket after the latter parked in a yellow box, a no parking zone.
According to the police blotter, Ocon slapped Agustin after asking Uy, "Imo ning tawo Gay? (Is this your man, Gay?)"
Ocon reportedly told Agustin, "Bastos ka ha (You're rude)," then turned his back and went to his chair as the Council was deliberating on the City Government's budget for 2017.
Asked for comment, Uy said Ocon should not have slapped Agustin even if he has complaints against the enforcer.
"Niadto mi didto kay aron maklaro unsay nahitabo pero kalit lang nahitabo ang dili maayo so wala na nadayon ang pakig-istorya. Murag personal naman to (We went there to clarify what happened but the unexpected happened so we didn't push through with the talk. I think it was personal)," Uy said.
Uy said they will initiate an investigation on the incident and would hear both sides before taking the necessary actions.
"Kung gibuhat niya iyang (enforcer) trabaho maayo pero kung wala ato siyang disiplinahon. Balansehon gyud nato (What the enforcer did was good but if not, we will discipline him. We will balance it)," Uy said.
"Kung naa siyay complaint ipahibalo sa authorities kung unsa gyud detalye aron maimbestiga busa didto mi sa City Council pero piti man dayon wala pa gani mi kapangutana (If he has a complaint, he should let the authorities know the details so it can be investigated and we went to the City Council. But the enforcer was slapped when we were about to ask questions)," Uy added.
Agustin is contemplating filing slander by deed charges against Ocon.
Ocon cannot be reached for comment as of this writing.