MMDA’s Gabriel Go Under Fire for Public Shaming a Police Captain
GABRIEL GO – The head of the MMDA Special Operations Group-Strike Force is facing controversy after allegedly humiliating Police Captain Erik Felipe during a clearing operation.
A viral video showed Go confronting Felipe over illegally parked motorcycles on the sidewalk. While Felipe apologized and agreed to move the vehicles, Go reportedly continued to reprimand him in a way that some viewed as excessive.
The incident is now under investigation by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM). Commissioner Atty. Rafael Calinisan emphasized that while the police officer should be penalized for any violation, the way Go and the MMDA handled the situation was problematic. Instead of simply issuing a ticket, they filmed the encounter and shared it online.
Felipe is now considering filing a formal complaint against Go. Even Senator JV Ejercito criticized the MMDA’s approach, questioning whether the incident was used for social media engagement rather than proper law enforcement.
In response, the MMDA issued a show-cause order to Go and assured the public that due process would be followed. MMDA Chairman Romando Artes defended Go, acknowledging that enforcement officers sometimes act emotionally under pressure. However, he assured that if Go was found to have acted improperly, appropriate action would be taken.
This controversy follows another issue involving Go. In June 2023, he resigned from the MMDA after a female traffic enforcer accused him of misconduct. However, he was rehired in November 2023 because no formal complaint had been filed against him at the time. Senator Ejercito has since questioned why Go was reinstated despite this history.
The MMDA apologized for the issue and pledged to maintain good relations with law enforcement agencies. They also stated that if Go’s actions were proven inappropriate, necessary disciplinary measures would be enforced.
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