Blind Man Fined For Jaywalking In Baguio

November 22, 2020 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (November 22, 2020) – A visually-impaired man was cited here for jaywalking along Magsaysay Ave., on Saturday afternoon.

Madino Codasi, from Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet’s capital town, apparently crossed an designated pedestrian crossing along Magsaysay Avenue here and was spotted by a Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) operative, hence his citation ticket.

A relative of Codasi said he showed his identification card issued by the La Trinidad LGU indicating his impairment and obviously to reason out he could not have seen pedestrian crossing signs.

But still Codasi was cited for the traffic violation, earning yet another social media uproar against the POSD, an enforcement division under the Office of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. Criticisms pointed out how inconsiderate the POSD operative was for not considering the impairment of Cogasi.

Baguio City Councilor and Chairman of the Committee on PWDs Arthur Allad-iw said, he contacted the family of Codasi and advised them to file a complaint to the Office of the Mayor. The councilor who is a PWD himself said, he will give assistance to the family of Codasi if they so decide to sue the POSD.

While Allad-iw also promised to call for a council inquiry on the incident so that the implementation of laws are strengthened. He also called out enforcers to be aware of existing laws protecting the rights of PWDs.

Under the Magna Carta for PWDs (Republic Act 7277), a violator is penalized P50,000 to P100, 000.00 or an imprisonment of six to two years.

The uproar came after its newly-appointed chief – Marvin Herrerra – got the ire of netizens after he was caught on video berating a market vendor, who he claimed violated health protocols.

But the vendor stood on his ground saying he did not violate any, while Herrera, who ran with Mayor Magalong but lost a seat at the 14-member Baguio City council in the 2016 polls, was seen not himself wearing a face shield upon approaching the vendor.

Herrera though had issued an apology for his demeanor.

Artemio A. Dumlao