Governor slams Tulfo anew: Gwen inspects bus terminals

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia conducted inspections at both the Capitol-operated South and North Bus Terminals in Cebu City on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, to check the situation and ensure the well-being of passengers traveling for the Holy Week.

During her inspection, the governor again criticized Senator Raffy Tulfo, who recently made a surprise visit to the province-managed North Bus Terminal and raised concerns about the condition of its buses and facilities.

Tulfo, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Service, pointed out in his visit several concerns at the CNBT, including the absence of fire extinguishers, non-functioning electric fans and push carts, passengers paying for restroom use, and several other safety issues of the buses.

Garcia took issue with Tulfo’s approach and statements, saying he disrespected not only government heads but also ordinary people.

“Being senator of the country, of the land, does not make you above the law and does not give you license to just barge in, with little knowledge about what the situation is, worse, with little knowledge of the law,” Garcia said.

“You don’t treat ordinary people like that, whether driver of a bus or a mere cashier, who do not dictate policies anyway. So that just gives you an inkling of what the character of the senator is,” she added.

At the North Bus Terminal located within the SM City Cebu mall complex, Garcia re-enacted how Tulfo allegedly barged into the terminal and told a private restroom attendant she would no longer have a job

the following day.

“Laliman ka lang ana iyang gi-fire nga di man gani na niya empleyado. Even me, as a governor, I cannot do that. The girl she told to be fired is not even an employee of the Provincial Government. Og bisan pa empleyado pa na sa gobiyerno, di na nimo basta-basta matangtang,” the governor said.

Garcia clarified that the comfort room in question is part of a private partnership between the Capitol and Mr. Loo Philippines, the private operator of CNBT’s paid restrooms. Although the fee is P10 per person, a free public restroom is available inside the mall.

The governor also cited Republic Act No. 11311, which allows premium commercial restrooms in transport terminals, separate from free public toilet facilities.

“Ignorance of the law, whether you are an ordinary citizen or you are a sitting senator of this Republic of the Philippines, excuses no one. So it is incumbent upon us, public officials, to be more circumspect in

the manner by which we conduct official and personal business,” she said.

Garcia previously rebuked Tulfo for what she described as an “uninformed” and “misleading” portrayal of the CNBT during his inspection, which she said unfairly damaged the reputation of the facility, which is only temporary while the provincial government searches for a permanent location.

During her inspections, Garcia was also joined by LTO-7 Director Glen Galario and LTFRB-7 Director Eduardo Montealto Jr.

She was also accompanied by her runningmate Glenn Soco and Board Members Stanley Caminero, Raul Bacaltos, and Cesar Baricuatro.

Ahead of the Holy Week travel rush, Police Regional Office-7 Director Police Brigadier General Redrico A. Maranan also led inspections of key transport hubs in Central Visayas, including the South and North Bus Terminals and the sea port.

The inspections are part of the Philippine National Police’s nationwide “Ligtas SumVac 2025” campaign, which aims to increase police visibility, enhance crime prevention, and improve emergency response during the influx of travelers during Holy Week.

Maranan personally assessed the readiness of security personnel and reviewed the setup of police assistance desks, traffic coordination points, and monitoring posts at high-traffic areas.

He confirmed that all operational resources of PRO-7 have been committed to this week’s security operations.

These include full personnel deployment, mobile patrol units, K9 teams, and tactical drones for real-time aerial monitoring of public areas. The drones are being used to enhance situational awareness and support rapid response, especially in large crowds and hard-to-reach areas.

Maranan also acknowledged the support of partner agencies such as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-7), which conducted on-the-spot drug testing for bus drivers to ensure commuter safety.

“We are taking a whole-of-government approach to protect our travelers. From crime deterrence to road safety and driver fitness, everything is being closely monitored,” Maranan said.

“Our goal is clear: to keep the public safe and secure as they travel to their hometowns and places of worship,” he added in a Facebook post. –/ATO (FREEMAN)