PHOTOS of a group riding a Cebu City Government-owned vehicle on the South Road Properties caught social media’s attention for allegedly being used for a private purpose last Sunday, Sept. 4.
The photos have gone viral since these were first uploaded by Inayawan Barangay Chief Lotlot Ignacio-Soon’s husband on Facebook.
The City-owned vehicle had the name of Barangay Sirao, to which it was previously issued, plastered on its wind shield.
Sirao Barangay Chief Felix Limotan, however, denied having any involvement in the alleged “joyriding” incident.
In a phone interview with Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, Limotan said that the vehicle was never given back to him after he returned the vehicle last May as told by then acting mayor Margarita Osmeña for inventory. It was handed to Barangay Councilor Flaviano Gabunada, who reportedly used the vehicle last Sunday. Gabunada is a known Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan ally.
Limotan, on the other hand, is identified with Team Rama.
“About last Sunday...if you’re going to use the City Government’s vehicle, you must first secure a trip ticket with my signature affixed (on it). However, I received none,” he said in Cebuano.
He said it was not the first time that the councilor did not ask for his signature. Since receiving the vehicle, Limotan said Gabunada has not visited his office to ask for trip tickets.
“The vehicle is not even parked in the barangay hall, but in his house. How will I sign the trip ticket if in the first place, they’re not asking for it from me anymore?” he asked.
Limotan said that failure to secure trip tickets is a serious violation, one that he had experienced some weeks ago over confusion on time of departure.
He said he was called to appear before the Office of the Ombudsman to explain about the matter. He urged Gabunada to observe the law to avoid any trouble.
But Jannen Arda Gabunada, daughter of the village councilor, said through a private message sent to Soon’s husband (a screenshot of which was posted on Facebook) that her father did not use the vehicle for “mere personal activity.”
“They went to Talisay to help a resident to transfer her things to Barangay Sirao because the resident wanted to transfer her residency (in Barangay Sirao),” she said.
“The fact that it is not in the hands of our barangay captain is not our discretion. It is the discretion of the mayor (Tomas Osmeña). We did not ask for it. He gave it with liberty,” she added.
Limotan said although failure to secure trip tickets violates the law, he has no plans of filing any complaint against Gabunada to avoid any conflict.