OBO told: Probe destruction of city vehicle

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Legal Office has requested the Office of the Building Offi-cial to investigate a private construction company involved in the pouring of cement to a city government-owned vehicle.

In a letter dated November 26 sent to OBO, City Legal Officer Rey Gealon requested OBO head Florante Catalan to investigate and impose a proper sanction, if applicable, to those liable after the October 17 incident at the construction site of Dakay Construction and Development Corp. situated on Acacia Street that destroyed to the city-owned Toyota Fortuner.

“The CLO has to vindicate the rights of the city by protecting its properties against erring contractors, such as what happened to this Toyota Fortuner issued to PROBE,” said Gealon.

Based on the certification issued by PNP Police Station 2, the investigation revealed that the construction company conducted grout cement pouring on the 20th floor to the 21st floor zone 3 of JEG Tower Building.

Column A of the 20th floor reportedly leaked, making the grout cement overflow and splatter.

Due to the strong wind, all nearest vehicles parked near the area, including the city vehicle, incurred mixed cement debris. A total of eight vehicles were damaged.

The CLO sent a letter to Dakay Construction on November 26 demanding payment to repair the city-owned vehicle.

“Demand is hereby made for you to pay, settle and/ or shoulder the cost of repair/ restoration of said City owned Toyota Fortuner within 10 days from receipt of this letter. Otherwise, we shall take appropriate legal action without further notice,” read the letter.

“For if we cannot protect our own properties, how can we protect the rights of our constituents,” said Gealon.

The company has yet to respond to the letter. /JMD (FREEMAN)