Near fistfight at BRT forum

CEBU - Tempers flared at the forum for a proposed mass transport system, but a fistfight was averted when the proverbial cooler heads prevailed.

Rogelio ‘Jingjing’ Osmeña, former regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board dared Richard Cabucos, president of the Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association to a fight.

Osmeña was irked at what he called off-tangent statements made by Cabucos in the forum meant to tackle the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

“Yes, ako-a siyang gihagad nga manggawas mi. Kung magsumbagay mi sa gawas, okay ra sad,” said Osmeña, who is also the current vice chairman of City Traffic Operation Management (CITOM).

During the forum, Cabucos hit the government particularly the Department of Transportation and Communications and the LTFRB asking them to stop the issuance of new franchises for public utility vehicles. (See separate story)

Cabucos explained that despite the 2002 moratorium, LTFRB has continued to issue new franchises citing that in that year the number of taxi units was only 4,000 and now it has ballooned to 6,000.

Osmeña, who was irked by the comments made by Cabucos, told him to address the matter to the LTFRB since the activity was not the correct forum to do so.

“Iyaha kong gisiko-siko. Mura og nanghagad og sumbagay. Nagpa-abot ra man sad ko kung mohana siya ug sumbag kay kung iyaha pa kung gi-unhan aw magsumbagay mi diri sa sulod,” Cabucos said.

Osmeña said, “Ako-a siyang gisiko kay daku kaayo og baba. Sigi og yawyaw.”

Osmeña said that had it not been for the intervention of LTFRB director Romulo Bernardes, they would probably have traded blows. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)