Garganera eager to face complaints

CEBU, Philippines – Tinago barangay councilman Joel Garganera has urged the City Council to immediately furnish him a copy of the administrative complaint filed by the traffic enforcer and some personnel of a towing company.

In a phone interview, Garganera said he was amazed at how fast the council members formed a committee to deal with the complaints on grave misconduct filed against him, when they did not make a single move the moment Mayor Tomas Osmeña allegedly defied an ordinance they had passed.

The former barangay captain said he is “very eager” to face the complaints.

“Yes, give me the copy right away, but to check if the ordinance was implemented, that’s not their job? The primordial duty of the City Council is not only to pass laws but to make sure these are implemented,” Garganera said.

He was referring to Ordinance 2172, which was approved in February giving authority to Osmeña to enter into a contract with a private towing company upon favorable endorsement by the City Traffic Operations and Management and the City Council.

“But the mayor gave an authority for One-Stop in February, the next month, to operate and without a contract, they did nothing. They are just a bunch of jesters, clowns, who are just there to amuse the mayor,” Garganera said.

He said he could not believe that Osmeña is not acting on his usual style.

“We know the Mayor   is very strict, he would ask for track record, and these towing companies were allowed to operate even without proving their track record, now he is asking anyone who wants to be in the business to apply,” he added.

He also cannot believe that the mayor is deceiving the public in saying he doesn’t know the owner of One-Stop Towing Services.

When asked to comment on Garganera’s statement, Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, chairman of the committee on transportation, communication and utilities, said that “it is a democracy and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.”

The implementation of towing by the City Hall recently grabbed the limelight after several complaints raised against the traffic enforcers and towing personnel and the manner it is implemented. — Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB (THE FREEMAN)