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Monday, February 06, 2006
Drivers’ group opposes more power for Citom
A TRANSPORT group is not buying Cebu City Hall’s reason that it is amending its traffic code so Citom enforcers could confiscate drivers’ licenses without issuing temporary operator’s permits (TOPs).
Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo (Nadsu) chairman Anthony Pogado, in an interview, said the proposed measure of Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, which he drafted upon the recommendation of the Citom board and Mayor Tomas Osmeña, is only intended for the City to earn more.
“It’s not to discipline drivers. It’s clear that they only want to collect money. They’re out to oppress us,” he said.
Pogado argued that the City could always ask Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 Director Alex Leyson to deputize its enforcers if its purpose is to grant them the authority to seize licenses from erring drivers.
Even LTO 7 is opposing plans of the Cebu City Government to empower City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) enforcers to confiscate the licenses of violators of the City’s traffic code.
Lawyer Vicente Gador Jr., LTO 7 legal officer, said violators could always get another ID from LTO if their original IDs are confiscated by Citom enforcers.
He also took pity on the drivers, who he said might be burdened by having to pay a substantial amount, aside from losing their license for violating an ordinance.
Gador likewise questioned a recent Supreme Court (SC) decision that said local government units have the power to confiscate a driver’s license, saying the SC has not realized the implication of its implementation.
Jakosalem, though, said he will insist on introducing amendments to City Ordinance City No. 801, or the “Ordinance Establishing a Traffic Code for the City of Cebu.”
Jakosalem, chairman of the council committee on energy, transportation, communication, and other utilities, said the decision was arrived at after it was observed that drivers nowadays take lightly their violations of local traffic laws, because they will just be issued citation tickets.
He said that TOPs are only issued for violations of national traffic laws. What he intended to do is that traffic enforcers could confiscate licenses for violations of City Ordinance 801.
Gador earlier said such a decision might create the impression that City Hall no longer needs to be deputized by Leyson.
It is only LTO that releases TOPs issued by deputized agents to drivers who violate national laws and whose licenses are confiscated.
Pogado promised that Nadsu, and surely the other transport groups as well, will vehemently oppose the proposed amendments once it is presented for a public hearing. (RHM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 6, 2006 issue)
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