THE Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) will file multiple charges against the owner of a tourist attraction in Barangay Sirao and other individuals who allegedly harassed traffic personnel who conducted a clamping operation in the area on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.
The commotion among the CCTO personnel, tourists and residents happened after the traffic enforcers clamped four private vehicles along the road near Sirao Garden.
CCTO head Raquel Arce told SunStar Cebu on Monday, Aug. 14, that they are gathering evidence before filing complaints against Roger Bontuyan, owner of Roger Flower Farm in Sirao.
“We have the video, pictures, but we have not yet obtained the names of other persons involved except for Mr. Bontuyan,” she said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Arce said some residents harassed the CCTO personnel who arrived in the area to address a complaint about illegal parking.
These residents, she said, blocked the CCTO vehicle by placing a rock behind the wheels so it could not leave.
“Ilang gi-held hostage. Gibunalbunalan nila ang sakyanan. Gi-intimidate nila ang among mga tawo. That’s why for their safety ni-decide ang akong mga tawo to unclamp the vehicles (They held the personnel hostage. They struck our vehicle several times. They intimidated our personnel. That’s why, for their safety, my personnel decided to unclamp the vehicles),” she said.
She said among the charges that her office will file include disobedience and resistance to a person in authority, harassment, and grave threats.
Complaints
Prior to the operation, Arce said the CCTO had received complaints from concerned citizens sometime in July and last Saturday, Aug. 12, about illegal parking in the area.
After receiving these complaints, she instructed the CCTO’s operation management to verify the report and take appropriate action.
For his part, Bontuyan claimed that the CCTO personnel did not make a public announcement before clamping the vehicles on Aug. 12.
However, Arce countered that it is part of their standard operating procedure to tell the drivers parking illegally to move their vehicles.
CCTO legal officer Kent Francesco Jongoy said the parked vehicles violated City Ordinance 801 (Traffic Code of the City of Cebu), which forbids parking at any time in an area that is not designated as a parking area.
Jongoy said the four vehicles had disregarded the “no parking at any time” sign in the area.
Flower farm owner’s side
Bontuyan told SunStar Cebu on Monday that he could not stop the CCTO from filing charges against him.
When questioned about his readiness to face the charges, Bontuyan declined to comment, but he said he harbors no ill feelings towards Arce
He said he even asked for her phone number last Saturday so he could talk with Arce, saying they are old acquaintances.
However, the CCTO personnel did not have Arce’s mobile number at that time.
When asked about the pistol tucked into his waist, Bontuyan denied that had an intention to intimidate.
The businessman said he often carries a firearm for personal reasons and due to the nature of his business.
“Gikuha ko na akong armas. Naay permit to carry. Complete papers. Gigastohan nako ni. Maong dili mahimo nga dili nako dad-on (I bought the firearm. I have a permit to carry [outside residence]. [I have] complete papers. I have spent on this. That’s why there is no reason why I should not carry my firearm),” he said.
City Administrator Collin Rosell, in a separate interview, said individuals involved in the harassment of CCTO personnel will be charged unless they reach a settlement.