31 CITOM men face ax due to alleged extortion

CEBU, Philippines - The City Traffic Operations and Management (CITOM) is set to fire 31 of its personnel, who are suspected of extortion.

Evidence have been gathered to prove the allegations against the 31 traffic personnel, whose jobs are now on the line.

CITOM Executive Officer Arnel Tancinco said that further investigation is still being conducted while the Human Resource Development Office of the city is now planning the action that must be taken if these traffic personnel shall be proven guilty.

There were 48 traffic personnel accused of extortion by the Nagkahiusang Driver sa Sugbo (NADSU).

Of the 48, only 31 are likely to lose their job based on initial evidence gathered.

NADSU head Ruben Rama went to City Hall last week to bring the matter to the attention of the city officials.

Rama complained in behalf of their member drivers that the accused personnel are extorting money from them through dispatchers. There is an anti-dispatching ordinance in the city.

Dispatchers who are allegedly deployed by traffic personnel collect P20 per driver, per trip and per night with a promise to be exempted from the enforcement of traffic rules.

These dispatchers operate along Osmeña Boulevard specifically in near the mall around Fuente Osmeña, in front of Metrobank Plaza, outside the Development Bank of the Philippines building and near another business establishment in the downtown area.

NADSU said that the scheme has been operating for a long time already, but drivers finally had the courage to complain only now since it has become a burden especially that prices of basic commodities are rising.

Rama further alleged that the task force created to enforce the anti-dispatching ordinance of the city is also extorting P15 from dispatchers.

“Nagbutang na sila og lata diha sa may dapit sa DOH (Department of Health Regional Field Office) arong hulog-hulogan og P15 aron dili sila dakpon,” Rama said.

Councilor Sylvan ‘Jack’ Jakosalem, Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Communications said that the council will request for further investigation of the erring personnel to be conducted by CITOM.

“If the complaints against them are true and factual, then they should be fired,” Jakosalem said.

Tancinco said that they are still looking into the legality of firing these personnel especially that election is nearing and there is a ban on the hiring and firing of personnel.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña refused to issue any comment until the results of the investigation is released.—Jessica Ann R. Pareja/NLQ      (FREEMAN NEWS)