Drivers “illegally” plying SRP nabbed

CEBU, Philippines - At least three multicab drivers were apprehended by the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management after they were caught “illegally” plying along the South Road Properties route.

CITOM operations chief Jonathan Tumulak told the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council that the drivers claimed they were allegedly authorized by Police Officer 3 Gregorio Comaingking of the Mobile Patrol Group.

The colorum vehicles reportedly collect P10 fare from the Senior Citizen’s Park to Kasadya sa SRP or to Talisay City, said Tumulak.

“We received reports that there is proliferation of multicabs that are transporting passengers and accepting fares on the route of SRP,” said Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.

Labella, who chairs the PCAC, said the operation of these colorum vehicles should be stopped for lack of franchise and insurances.

Comaingking and his immediate superior, Senior Superintendent Artemio Ricabo, are invited to the next PCAC meeting to shed light on the issue.

Comaingking, when interviewed, however, denied the allegations, saying he himself, along with a CITOM officer, a certain Garces, issued citation tickets against colorum drivers last Friday morning.

He said the drivers even asked them not to issue any citation tickets, but they still did so.

“Kinsa man gud ko mohatag og authority ana nila? Di man ko ka-decide ana. Gi-issue-han gihapon namo sila,” Comaingking defended.

He further said his nephew Lyndon Arnado was not even spared. Arnado’s multicab, which was being used to deliver vegetables, was parked across the Senior Citizens Park Thursday afternoon. He was apprehended and his multicab was impounded after he failed to show a driver’s license.

Comaingking said he only did a favor for his nephew by paying the P2,000 fine and retrieving Arnado’s multicab the following day.

“Even akong pag-umangkon wa’y exemption. Kun kinahanglan dakpon, dakpon,” the police officer said, adding he is willing to attend PCAC’s meeting next week.

According to Tumulak, the apprehended drivers were issued with citation tickets for not having a driver’s license and registration and for overloading. P500 penalty was set for each violation.

The drivers paid the fines and have already claimed their vehicles impounded by CITOM.

“Ang nakapait ani is we cannot issue citation sa ilang pagka-colorum kay wala na na-cover sa atong city ordinance maong maayo unta og aksyonan ni sa Land Transportation Office ug sa Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board,” said Tumulak. — (FREEMAN)