Police urged to sustain action vs. dispatcher-extortionists

The Cebu City council is asking the police to sustain their "intensive action against the continuing presence of dispatcher-extortionists in various thoroughfares in the city."

Councilor Procopio Fernandez, chairman of the council committee on police and public safety, last Wednesday passed a resolution seeking to apprehend dispatcher-extortionists and bring them before the bar of justice.

Fernandez said he continues to receive complaints from drivers of passenger jeepneys on the alleged failure of the police to apprehend dispatchers said to always extort money from them.

"We acknowledged the efforts exerted by our law enforcers in going after these dispatcher-extortionists, however, they tend to slacken sometimes giving the dispatchers the opportunity to resume their activities," Fernandez said.

A driver who requested anonymity said that dispatchers are mostly operating on Colon, D. Jakosalem, F. Ramos, Pelaez streets and other intersections.

"Pait kaayo ming mga drayber uy. Kon duna ra'y mosakay nga usa o duha ka pasahero mangayo gihapon sila. Dili ra ba modawat og peso, " he said.

He narrated the experience of another jeepney driver who suffered an injury on his lips after a dispatcher hit him with a P1 coin.

"Gilabay pagbalik ngadto sa drayber ang one-peso coin nga iyang gihatag sa dispatcher kay gigamayan," he said, adding that some dispatchers will not accept below P5.

"Dispatching" is defined as an act of procuring, soliciting, or escorting passengers or would-be passengers to any passenger vehicles whether such act is done under direction of the driver or operators and done with or without collecting or demanding fees."

City Ordinance 1279 enacted on July 17, 1986 provides that the violators will suffer the penalty ranging from P100 to P600 or an imprisonment of 15 days to six months. "It is in the best interest of the transport operators, drivers and conductors, as well as of the general public, that such undesirable activities be curtailed, prohibited and penalized," the ordinance states.

Fernandez branded the dispatchers as "lazy" and "eyesore" in the city.

"The sight of them is an eyesore that should be trampled upon at once, before they become a security threat. They symbolize ultimate laziness, which is a disgrace to the Cebuano populace," Fernandez added. - Garry B. Lao