I RECEIVED complaints from some members of the Cebu Trucking Association that they are victims of extortion by some unscrupulous Cebu City Transportation Office (CTO) personnel and traffic policemen. This information was also confirmed by a ranking City Hall official, who said that the same group of truckers personally visited Mayor Edgardo Labella and lodged the same complaint.
The truckers, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, said that some traffic policemen and CTO enforcers position themselves at the exit gates of the pier area and would stop cargo trucks. They would apprehend and even impound trucks for various violations like defective head and tail lights, emitting black smoke and other defects.
They threaten to impound the trucks, but would later release them after negotiation with the truck owners. The apprehending CTO personnel and policemen would demand huge amounts for the release of the truck. Truck and cargo owners, especially those carrying perishable items, are forced to give money ranging between P5,000 and P8,000 per truck. There are truck owners who give weekly and monthly “payola” to these policemen and traffic enforcers.
The truckers claim that these CTO and traffic policemen are pestering them with their modus. This “extortion activity” already reached the attention of the mayor as some of the victims personally visited the mayor over the weekend. The mayor promised the complainants immediate action by conducting an investigation as he does not tolerate this kind of shenanigans under his administration. There might be “heads to roll” in the CTO and the police traffic department. Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Col. Gemma Vinluan, for her part, also vowed to look into this matter to identify who among her traffic personnel are involved in this “extortion activity.”
I don’t know if Ricardo Barandog, chief of the CTO, is aware of the shenanigans of some of his men and what his action was before it reached the mayor. I hope the mayor will swiftly act on this matter as inaction might reflect on his administration.
These extortion activities by unscrupulous CTO and traffic policemen are also the result of the massive corruption at the Land Transportation Office (LTO). The LTO is in charge of car registration. Before a vehicle can be registered, there are some requirements to be met, like smoke emission test and Motor Vehicle Inspection Service (MVIS) results. If the LTO has been strictly implementing this policy, how come there are still vehicles, especially big cargo trucks, that are defective and are still running on the streets.
Some LTO inspectors allegedly receive bribes during the inspection of vehicles. The inspectors allegedly receive money from registrants in exchange for approval. They would demand something between P1,000 and P1,500 per unit for non-appearance inspection of the vehicles. They do not check the road-worthiness of the vehicles once owners meet their demands.
Owners of cargo trucks are forced to give in to the demands of alleged corrupt LTO personnel than shell out huge money for the repair of their vehicles. It’s much cheaper, according to some truck owners. Well, that is why corruption still exists and flourishes in that agency, which is known as one of the most corrupt government agencies.
Going back to City Hall. I also received this unverified complaint from a City Hall employee who was just dismissed from his work: “Good day Super Bob. Usa ko sa nataktak nga empliyado karong October 2019 nga casual employee sa Cebu City Hall. Okey ra man ko pero usa man pud ko sa gipangayuan ug kuwarta sa kantidad nga P5,000 sa usa ka Renren (family name withheld) nga taga-Guadalupe ug usa ka Giger (family name withheld) para makasulod sa City Hall. Hinaot pa unta nga mabalik ang among kuwarta. Daghan man mi mihatag para lang makatrabaho sa City Hall. Dili lang mi magpaila kay gibaharan mi ni Renren nga balikon mi niya kon moreklamo. Please ayaw lang isulti ang maong cellphone number kay mahadlok mi.”
I also received similar complaints during the early days of the hiring when Mayor Labella assumed office last June 30. There are unscrupulous individuals who claimed to have strong connections with the mayor who exploited or preyed on the applicants so that they would be hired. I know the mayor has no knowledge of this. If I remember, he had warned against this modus before. But just the same, I am calling the mayor’s attention to look into this complaint. Daghang mga siaw diha sa City Hall.