Province sues CITOM for towing their trailer

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government has filed criminal and administrative complaints against officials and members of the City Traffic Operations and Management for taking the province-owned trailer used as barricade on a lot at the old Larsian area in Fuente Osmeña.

A separate complaint for theft and for violation of Section 3 (e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act was also filed against officers and employees of the towing company hired by CITOM.

The complaint was filed yesterday before the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman.

Eduardo Habin, the Cebu provincial administrator who signed the complaint filed the complaints against CITOM executive officer Arnel Tancinco and other CITOM officers and employees.

The complaint of Habin was supported by an affidavit of Alfredo Cabillada, an employee from the Provincial Engineering Office.

Habin also asked the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman to preventively suspend the respondents during the pendency of the criminal and administrative case.

In his affidavit, Cabillada said that sometime in January 2010, pursuant to the directive of the Office of the Governor, their office placed the said trailer, which is no longer operational, as a barricade on a real property of the province fronting the Robinson’s Cybergate near Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City, to prevent trespassers from entering the said property.

He said that the said trailer was never placed in such a way that it could obstruct traffic nor was it placed in any road lot.

According to Cabillada, sometime last May 20, they were informed that the said trailer was illegally taken without the knowledge and consent of the Province of Cebu or any of its officials and employees by CITOM personnel led by Tancinco.

He further said that upon verification they found a citation ticket left by CITOM stating that the said trailer was towed for illegal parking.

He then reported the incident to Fuente Osmeña police station the following day.

He added that on the same day, a demand letter was sent by the Provincial Legal Office to Tancinco for the release of the said trailer, but it was ignored.

Tancinco reportedly claimed that the trailer blocked the road at Fuente Osmeña.  (FREEMAN NEWS)