CEBU, Philippines - Tinago barangay councilor Joel Garganera has accused mayor on-leave Tomas Osmeña of receiving a share out of the income of the private towing companies hired by the city to help in the campaign against the illegally-parked vehicles in the city’s roads.
Garganera, a member of the opposition and a staunch critic of the mayor, said he was surprised on why Osmeña personally encouraged the officials of the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) to file a case against him (Garganera) for intervening when the towing personnel tried to tow a vehicle.
The issue stemmed from the April 8 incident when the former barangay captain prevented the personnel of One-Stop Towing Services from pulling out a vehicle illegally-parked in barangay Capitol Site for alleged non-compliance of the towing personnel with the provisions as provided for by the city ordinance.
“Nagtoo g’yod ko nga may bahin si Tommy (Osmeña) sa kita aning mga private towing companies kay nganong siya man g’yod ang momando nga pasakaan ko’g kaso. Pero mas maayo usab kay aron mabulgar hinoon ni sa korte ang isyu,” Garganera said.
Osmeña, who is still recuperating in Houston, Texas after a successful operation to remove his cancer-inflicted urinary bladder, strongly denied the accusations.
“I think it is easier and even more lucrative to get a share from the Ciudad project, but I don’t think like Garganera and certainly don’t share his values. Anyway, let him explain to the judge that it’s okay to bash the head of towing personnel and steal from them because he believes I’m getting a share,” the mayor said.
Aside from the One-Stop Towing Services, the city through the CITOM, also hired the Road Warriors Towing Services to help tow any vehicles, including motorcycles, caught illegally parked along the roads.
The Freeman yesterday tried, but failed to contact the officials of the towing firm to get their comment about Garganera’s claim.
Garganera explained the existing ordinance that allows the towing of vehicles provides that the towing personnel should either blow its siren or to advice the owners that they have violated the traffic ordinance that prohibits parking in a particular place.
The barangay official was also accused of taking the memory card of the camera owned by the towing personnel that proves that the vehicle was parked in a no stopping area, but Garganera denied it. — Rene U. Borromeo/WAB (THE FREEMAN)