PUJ driver gets to jail term for snubbing ‘No Entry’ sign

CEBU, Philippines - For disregarding “No Entry” policy, a public utility jeepney driver was sentenced to six months to prison.

The decision was handed down by Judge Oscar Andrino of the Municipal Trial Court last July but the City Traffic Operations Management received a copy of the order only recently.

“The court finds the evidence of the prosecution as sufficiently strong and convincing as to establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt and to hold him liable for the offense charged,” Andrino said.

On March 5, 2012, traffic enforcer Joel Labaya issued a citation ticket to Jesus Cabaron, driver of a jeepney with plate number GWU 627, for “deliberately” disobeying an official traffic control device bearing a “No Entry” sign installed along F. Llamas Street in Cebu City.

Labaya said Cabaron violated City Ordinance No. 801, as amended by C.O. 2207.

The court said Cabaron failed to disprove the allegations against him.

“The foregoing set of facts being undisputed, the prosecution has adequately shown that the accused committed a traffic violation.”

CITOM Executive Director Rafael Christopher Yap said Cabaron has unpaid fines for traffic violations amounting to P64,000.

Yap said the decision is a welcome development for CITOM so the public will know that CITOM is serious in filing cases against those who violate traffic laws.

“We are urging the public, particularly our public transport operators and drivers not to take the citation tickets lightly. The citation ticket will lead to filing of a case and as a matter of fact, naa natay concrete example that the wheels of justice are moving as far as traffic violations are concerned,” he said.

He also said that drivers who have been fined for violating traffic laws should settle their obligations so that CITOM will not press charges just like in the case of 72 violators.

“This is a reminder to our motorists that we in CITOM are serious with prosecuting violators,” Yap said. – Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/JMO (FREEMAN)