Drivers ask council to intervene on election of officers

CANDABA - Members of the Candaba-Baliuag-Bahay Pare (CBB) Tricycle Operators-Drivers Association (Toda) sought Wednesday the assistance of the Municipal Council here for the holding of election to replace their set of officers whose terms of office had already expired.

Cipriano Sanguyo, a CBB Toda member, said that based on their existing bylaws, the term of office of the key officers including the Board of Directors already ended December last year and the continuing vacancy has led to misunderstanding and disarray of the daily routine of the association.

However, Sanguyo noted that the current Toda president failed to call for the conduct of election as mandated by their internal rules and regulations.

The said conduct of election is supposedly scheduled on December 30, 2012, but no election was held as the current officers allegedly on their own decided to extend their term of office until after the 2013 midterm elections.

Salvador Santos, also a Toda member, stated that disgruntled members already signed a petition asking their officers to voluntarily spearhead the conduct of an election to give way to the new set of officers who will manage the affairs of the association.

Santos noted that the problem was first brought to the barangay hoping that village chief Arnold Canimo could mediate on it.

"Nagpunta na po kami sa barangay pero wala pong ginawa ang aming kapitan," another tricycle driver narrated.

Vice Mayor Daniel Gallardo for his part told the Toda members to appoint their temporary or interim representatives to make sure that some issues and concerns are properly addressed.

Gallardo said an ordinary member has no personality to represent the association unless he was duly authorized by at least two thirds of the total membership.

He said interim representatives shall only act until after the new set of officers is elected.

CBB-Toda has a total membership of more than 450 tricycle operator-drivers.

Present during the council committee hearing were councilors Edgardo Gulapa, Michael Sagum, Narciso Maglanque, Racquel Foz, Charina Sombillo and Francisco Magat.