A wife of a tabloid columnist nearly suffered a nervous breakdown after a Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic constable accosted her for overspeeding in Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City, then forced her to cough up bribe money yesterday morning.

Angelina Batuigas, 46, wife of columnist and now Barangay. Chairman Mario Batuigas of Brgy. Bagong Buhay 3 of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, is now poised to lodge her complaint before the office of MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino against Traffic Enforcer Jerry Mallari.

Batuigas said that at about 9 a.m. while she was aboard their Toyota Avanza van (ZMH 240) driven by Fidencio Casoy, cruising the stretch of Macapagal Ave. when they were chased and flagged down by Mallari.

“Alam mo ba na overspeeding kayo? At dalawang libong piso kapag tiniketan ko kayo [Don’t you know that you are overspeeding? And you will be fined P2,000 for the violation]?” Batuigas quoted Mallari.

She added that she pleaded and explain to the traffic enforcer that she and her companion Magdalena Canlas who is a barangay councilman were on their way to an appointment at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

However, Mallari insisted that the ticket for their violation would mean a fine of P2,000 and a seminar for her driver but he would settle for P1,000 to avoid their delay and the fine.