Talisay councilor wants city to control use of its vehicles

CEBU, Philippines - A councilor who belongs to the minority block in the Talisay City council is seeking to regulate vehicles owned by city hall following the discovery that the car, which was driven by one of Joavan Fernandez's friends when arrested by the police in Cebu City Sunday dawn, belongs to the city.

Joavan Fernandez, who previously had some unpleasant encounters with the authorities, is the son of Mayor Socrates Fernandez.

Minority Councilor Romeo Villarante said he will recommend to the council that the matter be discussed with Mayor Socrates Fernandez considering that the alleged unauthorized use of government vehicles has happened more than once.

He said the council has every right to question and regulate government properties, including vehicles.

If the council again refuses to act on his request, he might raise the matter to the Ombudsman or to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Last September, shortly after Joavan's friend Benedict Gabasa's arrest, the council asked concerned departments and offices to investigate the alleged unauthorized use of a government vehicle by Gabasa, a temporary or job order employee.

But Vice Mayor and presiding officer Alan Bucao had clarified then that they don't have the power to ground the mayor, as what some critics had suggested, as their job is only "recommendatory" in nature.

Instead the council had written to the executive department asking that it investigate the incident.

Fernandez last Monday said he had handed over the vehicle to Joavan so he could have the scratches repainted.

Joavan keeps a mini auto-repair shop in his father's house of prayer in barangay Candulawan.

However, the mayor admitted that he had no idea that the sports utility vehicle was used by Gabasa, the same person caught driving another city-owned vehicle (a Toyota Revo SGH 541) last September without a license.

Gabasa was arrested again this time by the Pardo police for driving without a license.

The city hall said Joavan was authorized to use the car, which used to be the mayor's service vehicle previously, for his feeding program.

Last March, Joavan was seen driving another city hall-owned car, a Toyota Revo (SFR-595), to transport food for his 27th birthday party held at a condominium unit in Cebu City.

Public information officer Arturo Bas said the city hall has existing policies regarding the use of its vehicles.

One has to secure trip tickets before he is allowed out of the city hall premises with a government-owned car.

The mayor has all the powers to authorize anyone to use the city's vehicles, he said. (FREEMAN)