Execs who waived penalties, surcharges to be identified

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government will identify the city officials who allowed the waiving of penalties and surcharges of towed and impounded vehicles of Very Important Persons (VIPs) at Jadewell Parking Systems.

City Administrator James Abadia said that ones identifed, the officials will be made to explain, although it must be considered that their names may have also been used so that the vehicle owners can get the exemption.

Abadia said the city legal office headed by Atty. Giovanni Tiannero will be tasked to determine the identities of these officials so they can be subjected to investigation. Those who will be found liable may face administrative sanctions, he said.

The Commission on Audit (COA) found that the city lost at least P40,953 from waiving the penalties. COA already recommended that Mandaue refrains from granting requests of VIPs in waiving penalties, sanctions, and charges imposed by their accredited towing company.

Based on documents submitted by Jadewell Parking Systems, which does not include the months of May, June and July 2010, requests granted by Jadewell translated to a loss of income for the city amounting to P40,953.

"The actual collections could not be validated since the official receipts got wet and the ones submitted, representing a month's transaction, could not be separated," the COA report reads.

Tiannero, for his part, said they will coordinate with the city treasurer's office headed by Regal Oliva to determine the remittances of Jadewell in relation to their auctioned vehicles.

Tiannero said they will also check the records of vehicles auctioned after impounded for more than six months since 2003. "We will be checking on what auctions transpired during the previous years," he said.

Tiannero's action is in relation to the COA report that most of the towed and impounded vehicles that have been held for six months are still in the impounding area and were not sold for public auction. Such is a violation of a city ordinance that mandates that vehicles not claimed after six months should be sold in a public auction. - THE FREEMAN