Public hearing scheduled for ruling vs. dispatchers

People presently working either as dispatchers of public utility vehicles or car watchers have been invited to a public hearing on January 24 about a proposed amendment to the penalty of an existing law that has actually rendered their work as illegal.

Councilor Raul Alcoseba, traffic management committee chairman, has proposed to raise the fines to P5,000 with a six-month imprisonment against arrested dispatchers and car watchers that have been noted to have used their work as a form of extortion on motorists.

Other proposed items are: If the violator chooses to forego indictment in court, he can pay a P2,000 fine directly to the city treasurer; and if the case is already in court but judgment has not been issued yet, the violator can pay a P2,500 fine as a form of amicable settlement.

"Grabeha sab nila uy, ila man g'yod mi nga kuhaan sa kapangwartahan," a dispatcher operating at the corner of Colon and P. Lopez streets said.

A car watcher along Manalili Street added that they work without compelling motorists to pay them: "Dili man mi mamugos kon dila sila mohatag."

Since dispatchers and car watchers have no organization, they said they are now looking for somebody to represent them in the public hearing and help them bring their concern to the city council.

The proposal to increase the fines against dispatchers and car watchers is meant to stop them from extorting from motorists.

The councilor had observed that since 1986, when City Ordinance 1219 was enacted to declare unlawful the acts of dispatching PUVs and watching of cars, the campaign against them was practically useless.

"Until amendments are introduced to impose a more severe and stiffer penalties, the problem of anti-dispatching, watch-your-car and other similar acts, as extortion-like activities, will continue to plague victimizing car owners and drivers," Alcoseba said.

The law defines "dispatching" 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.

Alcoseba said he was compelled to move for higher penalties after receiving complaints from jeepney drivers and owners of private cars about dispatchers and watch-your-car men who allegedly extort money from them.

City police director Patrocinio Comendador said the campaign against dispatchers will be more effective if the drivers, who are being victimized, will execute affidavits to indict these people.

Councilor Edgardo Labella also commended Alcoseba's proposal because it will protect motorists from these street "extortionists" but he recommended for the holding of a public hearing to get the views of those people who will be affected.

Jeepney drivers and owners of private vehicles have reported being threatened or hurt by dispatchers and car watchers whom they refused to pay for their "services".

Most PUJ drivers give P5 or P10 to dispatchers whenever they pass by the areas "controlled" by these dispatchers, while others said they are only threatened to give money to these people.

"The motorists deserve a rest from these hooligans and new vehicle owners need not suffer through this negative experience," Labella said. - Rene U. Borromeo