Talisay opposition councilors issued “fake” car passes?

CEBU, Philippines -  Barangay Linao, Talisay City Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation chairman Val Joseph Ylanan, who is the son of city Councilor Val Ylanan, was surprised after a traffic enforcer in barangay San Isidro told him yesterday morning that his car pass is fake.

Val Joseph told reporters yesterday that he was so embarrassed when told about it.

He told the enforcer that “akong papa konsehal unya fake akong car pass?”

He was allowed to pass through after he told the enforcer that his car pass came from his father Talisay City Councilor Val Ylanan.

On other hand, councilor Ylanan told reporters the car pass used by his son came from the office of the city mayor.

It is a copy of the original pass, scanned and signed by Mayor Socrates Fernandez.

Ylanan said the passes that opposition councilors Danny Caballero and Councilor Romeo Villarante are using fake ones.

He said that Monsignor Ruben Labajo, procession coordinator of the south area for the Calungsod thanksgiving mass, told him that all city councilors will be provided with car passes.

Ylanan said his secretary and Caballero’s secretary and Villarante had an argument with the city mayor’s staff last Wednesday because the mayor’s staff allegedly refused to give them car passes.

On Thursday, the secretaries of the three opposition councilors went back to the office of the mayor and asked again for car passes but they were given scanned copies with the signature of the mayor.

Msgr. Labajo told reporters that all city councilors, vice mayor, and mayor are being given car passes by the highest priest.

The one in charge of issuing car passes in the city is the parish priest of Santa Teresa de Avila in barangay Poblacion.

But Msgr. Labajo did not confirm how many car passes have been given to city officials.

Mayor Socrates Fernandez said Fr. Rosdel Noel, one of the members of the team ministry of Santa Teresa de Avila and in charge of issuing car passes to city official authorized him to reproduce car passes.

He said he learned from Fr. Noel that instead of 14, only 10 car passes were distributed by the church to city officials.  (FREEMAN)