Ombudsman clears Manila exec of graft

The Office of the Ombudsman has cleared a Manila City official in connection with the collection of fees from operators and drivers of public utility vehicles such as jeepneys and mega taxis using Plaza Lawton as parking, loading and unloading area.

Cleared by the Ombudsman of violation of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, was former Manila councilor Manuel Zarcal, currently the officer-in-charge of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau.

"This ruling is a vindication for us and we are satisfied with it. We have never committed any illegal acts and have always performed our duty in accordance with the law," Zarcal said.

The complaint against Zarcal and SPO3 Roberto Ocampo of the PNP Metropolitan Traffic Bureau, was filed by Ligaya Santos, barangay chairman of Barangay 659-A, Zone 71 of the 5th district of Manila.

Santos alleged that the collection of fees from the operators and drivers of public utility vehicles using Plaza Lawton as a parking, loading and unloading area is illegal since there is no or ordinance authorizing the same.

She alleged that Ocampo has been harassing the drivers of FX mega taxis and collecting "grease money" from them, and that when she confronted the latter, Ocampo shouted invectives at her and even boasted that he was acting on orders of Zarcal.

Zarcal and Ocampo were directed by the Ombudsman to file their counter-affidavits, but only Zarcal complied with the directive.

In his counter-affidavit, Zarcal pointed out that Manila Ordinance No. 7815 creating the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau also empowers the said agency to designate pay and no-pay parking areas and collect parking fees.

Zarcal said that a formal agreement had been entered into by the city government and the various transport organizations operating in the area for the latter to use a portion of Plaza Lawton as a parking, loading and unloading area. He added that in line with the agreement, the said transport groups have been paying the city government P600,000 every quarter or P2.4 million a year, and that the said amount goes directly to the city government.

Zarcal also denied that he directed Ocampo to collect money from drivers and operators of FX taxis and what Ocampo is merely detailed as a traffic enforcer, whose mother unit is the Western Traffic and Enforcement Office.

The decision, which was issued by Graft Investigating Officer I Francisco Maullon last Oct. 24, stated that there is no evidence that respondents violated any provision of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and dismissed the complaint for lack of merit.