More arrested for dispatching

Another group of dispatchers were rounded up by the police from various places in Cebu City and charged for violating the city’s anti-dispatching ordinance.

Narciso Romero, Elmer Estorom, Remigio Languido, Rene Quirante, Roberto Villegas and Jimboy Ruiz are now facing criminal charges for violating City Ordinance 2108 before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities.

City Ordinance 2108 prohibits dispatching of passengers for public utility vehicles.  Dispatching is defined in the ordinance as an act of procuring, soliciting, or escorting passengers or would-be passengers to any passenger vehicles whether done under direction of the driver or operators and with or without collecting or demanding fees.

But while the law enforcers have started to enforce the city’s anti-dispatching ordinance, drivers said that every time the dispatchers are apprehended new ones take their place.

“Pait na g’yod tingali ron ang kahimtang sa panahon kay tiaw mo, dili na man mangahadlok ang mga tawo nga madakpan,” said jeepney driver Roberto Demecillo.

Some drivers said some dispatchers still operate in Colon St. even if the place has so many traffic enforcers and policemen pass by there every now and then.

Last week seven dispatchers arrested by the police and charged for the same offense.

They were Alexis Ejara, Juvie Mangubat, Joseph Ajer, Loren Belarmino, Felipe Gallarde, Noe Alvia and Arnold Zapanta.  The violators face a fine up to P5,000 and imprisonment of six month if convicted.

Drivers said they have no choice but to give coins to dispatchers for fear that something will happen to them if they will refuse. 

“Mga maldito man god kaayo ning tawhana sir, mao nga mapugos lang mi paghatag,” Demecillo said.  — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP