What is the Philippines coming to? MMDA Scam?

I went to the Land transportation office (LTO) today to renew my license which expired during my birthday (September 6). It was a hectic 4-hour long wait for them to get over all of the expensive medical and drug tests that they seemingly don’t really check (really, they don’t – but I didn’t mind until I realized that it’s just like giving them away free money, which costs 400 pesos by the way)

After the long wait, when I was on the last step of renewing my license, the woman on station #1 – an old chubby lady with glasses pointed out to me a paper from MMDA stating I had a violation. Here’s what the paper contained:

Unfortunately, this time, the kotong came from the office – they really labs(in the Japanese accent they pronounce “L” as “R” which i think is how we ought to read the last line in the picture) us.

MTT number M0416549766 Apprehension date: 3/18/09

But (They mistakenly claimed that) the recorded date in their computer when I was (supposedly) apprehended was June 30, 2008 by a certain MMDA named Rabi Gary (That’s what the ticket they never gave me stated) – I never even remember signing a ticket like that. What’s more is, I don’t remember anyone who apprehended me to go by that name or surname (It’s been my habit to observe the surname of my apprehender if ever I do get caught)

Violation :226 -unclassified (How the heck can my violation be unclassified?????)

Deputation# 00425

The ticket apparently costs 150 pesos – there ain’t no ticket that costs 150 pesos. I think the least costs 500. But I’m not too sure of that so I’ll let it slip. But anyhow, it’s still 150 pesos and it still cost me almost 5 hours of my life. It’s plain, dirty, and downright evil. It’s theft and stealing from innocent people when you’re a government official is just shameful.

I wasn’t able to bring the car this day because of this (I work in Ortigas and I live in Las Pinas – that’s almost a 2 hour commute). I went to work late and I’ll be staying here up until 11:30pm just because of all this corruption in the MMDA. I’ve never imagined the MMDA to go this far as to create phony tickets and have the people pay unknown, unclassified violations. My suspicions is that someone is trying to raise some cash for himself for his upcoming campaign – but until proven guilty, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. It’s just my suspicion.

Nontheless what I experienced today is just plain, blunt corruption and thievery. They even claimed that they got my license number on their surveillance camera (Wow… Cameras that can zoom to that extent? Looks like “Men in Black” went to the Philippines)

What happened today just makes me want to go to another country – but that’s cowardice. So I’m going to send this to all the news sites and forum sites who cares – maybe facebook is a good idea too! Anyhow, if anyone’s been victimized by this same MMDA theft, please do express your feelings in the internet – and hope that it reaches someone who can make a change here in the Philippines.