One of Tom's police cars repainted

CEBU, Philippines - One of the two vehicles marked “Cebu City POLICE” and installed with sirens and blinkers has undergone a repainting job, while the other one will lose its current paint soon after controversy erupted over these vehicles which Bigfoot Global Solutions had wanted to donate to the Cebu City Government.

Land Transportation Office (LTO) - 7 Assistant Director Arnel Tancinco said he inspected the vehicles and saw the change in paint.

“I have checked the police cars, it’s only one na lang ang marked and with blinkers, the other one has been cleared and repainted na. (Tommy) informed me that the second one will be also repainted,” said Tancinco, who said that Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña had applied for the change of colors a long time ago.

As that developed, Osmeña yesterday challenged Mayor Michael Rama and his other political critics to file charges against him in court if they believe that a violation was committed.

Earlier, the congressman’s wife, Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña, said Bigfoot owner Michael Gleissner “donated” the vehicles to Ma Victoria “Minnie” Osmeña. Yesterday, however, Osmeña corrected the information and stated that Gleissner “sold” these to Minnie although she did not say how much.

The two US-made V6 Dodge Charger vehicles were scheduled to be donated to the Cebu City Government in 2009 but Gleissner reportedly did not pursue his plan to donate after learning that Osmeña’s term as mayor would end on June 30, 2010.

Margot said the two vehicles are registered with LTO under the name of Minnie and her son Paulo. Because Minnie is most of the time staying in the United States, the vehicles are kept under care of Tomas, her younger brother, at his house in Barangay Guadalupe.

An issue was raised about the vehicles because of its sirens and blinkers and these are marked with Cebu City POLICE and the Cebu City Government’s logo on its sides.

Presidential Decree 96 prohibits the use of sirens and blinkers for private vehicles. The prohibition has been strengthened with the advocacy of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, who does not use sirens and blinkers on his service vehicles to serve as example to public.

Osmeña yesterday insisted that there was no violation of the law even if the vehicles are painted to the US police vehicles and marked with Cebu City POLICE because these are being used by his bodyguards, who are police officers.

According to Osmeña, the two privately owned but police marked vehicles are sometimes used by visiting very influencial persons (VIPs) like senators, congressmen and government secretaries, including boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

Osmeña also brought with him one of the controversial vehicle when he attended the burial of then DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, hoping that it will “add more elegance to the funeral” of his friend.

Cebu City Police Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe and LTO-7 Regional Director Raul Aguilos chose not to comment on the issue.

Gleissner’s plan was to donate the vehicles to the city so the police can use them to patrol the South Road Properties (SRP), where his company leased two hectares at a monthly rate of 40 US cents or P26 per square meter.

In that agreement, the City would earn about P400,000 a month or nearly P5 million a year for the lease of the two-hectare property. Gleissner had made an advance payment of P28 million for his five-year rental. — /JPM (FREEMAN)