MMDA’s Gabriel Go keeps post, to undergo retraining after scolding erring cop

Metro Manila, Philippines - Gabriel Go, the viral Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) official who was filmed berating an erring police officer, will keep his post but he will undergo traffic management training, the agency said on Monday, April 7.

In a statement, the MMDA said Chairman Romando Artes instructed the special operations group strike force head to undergo a five-day mentorship, “focusing on leadership, courtesy, and discipline and with special attention on stress and anger management.”

The agency noted that Artes' decision was not a punishment but rather an avenue for self-improvement.

The five-day session will be led by Edison Nebrija from MMDA traffic education division.

Last week, Go publicly apologized to the police officer he scolded over illegal parking after the National Police Commission deemed it as an act of shaming the police force.

The agency said it issued a ‘stern warning’ against Go, but warned that such instances will be dealt with severely should it happen again.

The MMDA official was appointed to his position in 2023.

“The MMDA constantly reminds its traffic enforcers to exercise maximum tolerance when dealing with unwarranted confrontation with traffic violators, address the matter in a diplomatic manner, and observe the highest degree of professionalism in all official dealings,” the agency said.