HUNDREDS of residents in four barangays in Pinamungajan town signed manifestos, alleging their barangay captains illegally used Capitol-issued vehicles.
Capitol spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda said four sets of manifesto have been referred to the Cebu Provincial Legal Office for evaluation and study for whatever charges they can file against the barangay chiefs.
"We request the concerned barangay captains that instead of raising their complaints (of vehicle confiscation) to a certain radio program or radio station, they should address it to the Office of the Governor," Sepulveda said.
Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha, on behalf of the barangay captains of Camugao, Tanibag, Butong and Lamac, accused Capitol officials of recalling the vehicles because Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia was defeated in these areas during the May 10 elections.
Meanwhile, Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) executive director Arnel Tancinco said they will release the Province-owned flatbed trailer truck if the Capitol can produce proof of ownership and registration.
Last week, Citom traffic enforcers towed the flatbed trailer owned by Capitol for parking in an alleged "no stopping anytime" zone.
In a phone interview with Sun.Star Cebu, Tancinco said the truck would have been released immediately if the province showed proof of its ownership.
Tancinco said he sent yesterday afternoon a reply to the letter of the Provincial Engineer's Office asking why Citom towed the trailer.
In his letter, Tancinco said Citom stands firm that the trailer truck was intercepted since it violated traffic rules, saying not only was the truck abandoned but it also lacked a chassis number and registration papers.
If Capitol will redeem the trailer, it needs to pay the fines of P500 for the "no stopping violation," another P500 for abandoning the trailer, P3,000 for the towing charge and a storage fee of P2,000 per day starting last Friday.
Meanwhile, Mayor Yapha said the residents of the barangays who lost their vehicles have to walk to the venue of their community activities.
However, Sepulveda said the people from the barangays are the ones complaining against their barangay captains for using the vehicles for personal gain.
He said in Camugao, the residents signed a manifesto alleging that Barangay Captain Mario Moñasque used the vehicle in buying goods in Biasong, Talisay City and deprived the residents of a means to bring their sick family members to the hospital.
The Camugao captain also allegedly used the vehicle for partisan political activities during the May 10 elections, and instead of parking the vehicle at the Barangay Hall garage, he used it in going home.
Sepulveda said there were 110 people who signed the manifesto against Moñasque.
In Barangay Butong, Sepulveda said more than 100 residents complained against Barangay Captain Dennis Daroja for allegedly using the vehicle for partisan politics and for personal reasons.
Dozens also signed the manifesto against Tanibag Barangay Captain Benito Fernandez and the Lamac barangay captain.
Sepulveda said the governor's office received the manifestos in April or during the campaign period yet, but Capitol did not recall the vehicles until after the elections to prevent the governor's political opponents from politicizing it.