City to address plaint vs towing

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City administrator Francisco Fernandez yesterday assured the city will properly address the complaint of a mechanical engineer against a city-hired towing company.

Fernandez said he would bring the matter to the attention of Mayor Tomas Osmeña once the mayor arrives from the United States.

Engr. Nestor Aviso Sr. of barangay Guadalupe formally filed his complaint before the office of the city administrator yesterday.

Aviso claimed he was tending to an emergency case on the midnight of May 15 when his Mitsubishi Adventure, which he parked across Cebu Doctors Hospital (CDH) was towed by One Stop Towing Services.

Fernandez told Aviso that effective May 22, the city had already temporarily allowed parking within hospital zones.

“Although, it may be late before you came and complained but we will address your other concerns, the alleged arrogance, non courtesy and procedures,” Fernandez said.

The engineer has complained against the alleged arrogance of One Stop personnel in dealing with him when he inquired and asked for consideration at the firm’s stockyard.

Aviso also complained against the company’s way of transacting business, saying the face of the employee dealing with the person transacting business could not even be seen as only a window pane is open where papers could he handed over.

He would also furnish the Office of the Ombudsman a copy of the letter complaint after he forwarded its copies to the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM).

“I am so aggrieved, I don’t know what to do, I am on my own, I do not want to add a political color on this complaint even if I heard opposition leader Joel Garganera’s encouragement for those affected by CITOM and the towing services to come out,” Aviso said.

The engineer narrated that he rushed to CDH before midnight of May 15 upon learning that his niece had delivered a dead baby and was due for blood transfusion.

He only parked his car for 30 minutes and when he went back to retrieve his personal belongings, including cash, which will be spent for the hospital necessities, his vehicle was no longer there.

He said he proceeded to the stockyard of One Stop and tried to explain but its personnel were arrogant in answering his queries and told him they were not the ones who towed his Mitsubishi Adventure.

“I was totally helpless, could not do anything but to make the best I can, went back to the hospital, stressed and disappointed about my niece situation and the towing incident,” he said.

He said his health is also being monitored as he is suffering from a heart ailment, hypertension and diabetes.

Aviso pointed out that the place where he parked his vehicle had a signboard “No Parking, Monday to Saturday from 7am to 7 pm.

“Suffice to say the place is a parking area, infront of a hospital, not committed overnight parking as I had just parked it barely for 30 minutes. Human as we are, nobody in his right mind will park his car infront of any hospital if he has no business,” Aviso said. — Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB (THE FREEMAN)