CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday said the city will look into allegations that City Market Administrator Raquel Arce sold some of the items confiscated by her personnel from the vendors at the Carbon Public Market.
Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young and city administrator Jose Mari Poblete were among those who received text messages that were circulated at the City Hall from an unknown sender who accused Arce of illegal activities by selling plastic products and weighing scales confiscated by the personnel of the Market Operations Division.
The text messages says, “Palihog imbestigara ninyo si Ma’am Raquel kay madamay mi tanan. Suko niya mga taga Unit III kay iyang gipabaligya mga dinakpang plastik kahon ug timbangan kay taga Unit III ra gihapon ang nakapalit.”
“Nagubot mi gibaligya ang uban last week sa December ug misulong ang mga vendor gahapon sa legalization sa mga dagko nga stall sa Pasil. Kadtong dili ka qualify gipangayoan og tag P20,000. Klaro-klaro lang wala g’yud mamahin. Da bulabogay man kaha ni,” the text message further reads.
But in an interview with The FREEMAN, Arce just laughed off the allegations and described it as a mere intrigue.
“Ha, ha, ha dili na tinuod. My conscience is clear. Ang amnesty P10,000 to P15,000 ug dili P20,000 as alleged, unya pa g’yud with Official Receipt na ug ang City Treasurer’s Office ang modawat sa kwarta, dili intawon ako,” Arce said.
But despite of Arce’s denial, Rama still encouraged the complainant to come into open and support his or her allegations. The mayor explained that the investigation into the report will not prosper unless the complainant cooperates.
The FREEMAN learned that Arce’s MOD personnel had confiscated some water dispensers because their owners illegally connected them to the electrical connections of the market. Other items that were seized involved those that were displayed in areas not allowed for vending. — (FREEMAN)