Victim of Ruthless Makati Police Safety Assistance (MAPSA)

As always, i have heard numerous complaints about Makati Police Safety Assistance (MAPSA), a group under Makati City Government who is in charge of the traffic situation in Makati City. As a sales person, I usually visit Makati since majority of our existing and new clients' offices are located to this busy city.

MAPSA from what i have heard never accepts bribes from motorists who are guilty of traffic violations. They confiscate driver's licenses and tells motorists to claim them a day or two after the incident at their office in Makati City Hall. Motorists are then asked to pay expensive fees to claim their license. Take note, the lowest fee is P 500, for minor violations such as ignoring no right/left turns and the like. I personally witnessed a motorcycle driver fined P 2700 for lack of side mirrors on his bike, which is probably much more expensive than buying a new pair of side mirrors.

Just recently, I parked my car at the back of an abandoned building in between parking slots which are both occupied. I looked for a parking attendant, who usually walks around and waits for motorists to park and issue tickets. After a couple of minutes, no attendant in sight, I decided to go inside a client's office adjacent to the parking space and pick up something. I was inside the building for about ten minutes and upon returning to my car, i was horrified to see it was gone. I asked bystanders and a security guard near the site what happened and they told me that my car was towed. I asked for directions where my car was brought to and they all told me to go to Yakal street near the city's fire station.

I immediately proceeded to the impounding area and located my car in 5 minutes upon arrival to the site. I asked the officer in charge what was the reason why they towed my car without even a warning or not even waited for 30 minutes or just issue a parking violation warning. They told me that i parked at a no parking area. I asked how come, since there were no "no parking" signs, no parking attendant who usually issue parking tickets and i didn't even parked at the building's driveway (which is by the way abandoned as I mentioned earlier). And i just left for 10 minutes, which is i think was too fast for a towing truck to spot my car, lift it and tow to the impounding area.

In short, nobody at their office offered an explanation, their towing truck just left, a lot of motorists with their cars impounded are looking and asking for explanations and people at their office just collected payments and know nothing of what happened to our vehicles. We were just left to face a rude male cashier who demanded payment of P 1000 for each motorist, for them to release our cars. He informed us that if we can not pay, just leave our vehicles there and come back if we have the money.

This is plain robbery by MAPSA and motorists are forced to pay instead of leaving their vehicles overnight and face the possibility that their cars will be sent to another impounding area or worse, damaged or be a victim or carnapping. Their staff were just too rude, never offered any explanation and were not even wearing uniforms or IDs (i guess, so they will not be associated to the Makati City government).

I wrote this blog to warn other motorists who frequent Makati area. Beware of MAPSA people pretending to assist motorists. One wrong move and you will definitely pay fees that favor the city's politicians. Also, this warning also goes for motorists who frequent pasig/ortigas/shaw boulevard area, their tow trucks will be there in less than 5 minutes if your vehicle ever touches the MMDA pink line. No warnings, no ifs and buts, no explanations, just follow them to their impounding area and pay at least P 3000 to claim your vehicle.