Citom, towing personnel files plaint vs Garganera

Other than the criminal case filed in court, Tinago barangay councilor Joel Garganera will also be facing administrative investigation after a traffic enforcer and three towing personnel filed a collective administrative complaint against him before the City Council.

Traffic enforcer Jonathan Romariz of the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) along with Mark Anthony Boyo, Gerald Boyo and Alan Hekin of One-Stop Towing Services filed a collective administrative complaint against Garganera for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the interest of public service.

The complainants had earlier filed a separate criminal complaint for direct assault against Garganera and Atty. Ramsey Quijano, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu Chapter.

The City Council immediately referred the complaint to the “Council of Three” for the south district composed of councilors Gerardo Carillo, Jose Daluz III and Roberto Cabarubias. They were joined by additional council members Councilors Arsenio Pacana and Edu Rama.

The complaint stemmed from the April 8 incident when an altercation between the camp of Garganera and the towing personnel erupted after the latter tried to tow the sports utility vehicle (SUV) of Quijano at Don Jose Avila Street corner F. Ramos Street in barangay Capitol Site, where overnight parking is prohibited.

When the team of Romariz spotted the SUV parked along a no-overnight parking zone, they allegedly asked a bystander to identify the driver but he was unable to do so.

Romariz tried to check the vehicle if the driver was asleep inside but no one was there, prompting him to ask the towing service personnel to tow the vehicle. Just as they were about to mount the vehicle, a group of about eight men crossed the street and moved swiftly toward them.

A man, who introduced himself as Joel Garganera, allegedly shouted at them: “Unsa man ni? Sige lang mo’g pataka pangguyod. Gipan-an tamo do. Nangguroy mo ganina.”

Romariz said introduced himself as a traffic enforcer of Citom and explained to Garganera’s group their violations but the barangay councilman allegedly screamed at Romariz and threatened to beat him up while clenching his fist as “as though he would inflict physical harm.”

The complainants said Garganera’s companion also introduced himself by saying, “Wala ka kaila nako, dong? IBP president ko!”

Garganera allegedly continued by telling Hekin, “Dali nimo naka-clamp, buk-an tika og ulo” and also grabbed the sling of the digital camera that was used by one of the enforcers for documentation.

The complainants said Garganera “took away, stole, without our permission and consent, and with intent to gain, the memory card of the mentioned digital camera.”

On the other hand, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the most important thing that the city need now is enforcement.

For now, he added that he has not seen any reason for him to suspend the operations of One-Stop and in fact, he welcomes anyone interested to venture into the towing business to apply with the city. — Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB (THE FREEMAN)