Greg: Recall of multicabs is "terrorism"

CEBU, Philippines - The Capitol recalled three multicabs from three barangays in Tuburan town last week after the barangay officials allegedly failed to observe the agreed rules for its use.

While Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. described the move of Capitol as a terrorist act against the people of the barangays, Capitol spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda quickly defended the move of the provincial government in recalling the multicabs from barangays Sumon, Kalangahan and Lusong.

“Recall is a consequence for those who failed to observe the pre-agreed and present rules for the use of the subject vehicles. That is not terrorism, that is the actual application of the rule of law,” Sepulveda said.

Sanchez told reporters yesterday that Lusong barangay captain Julieto Talaugon visited him the other day and told him that the multicab assigned to his barangay was already taken by Capitol employees.

Talaugon said he was not around when Capitol employees came to get the vehicle.

“Grabe na gayud kaayo kining ilang gibuhat sa mga katawhan sa lungsod sa Tuburan, ang mga tawo maoy ilang gilisudlisud ug giterorismo,” Sanchez said.

The vice governor said that the multicabs are used by the barangay officials during emergencies and important activities in the barangays.

“Karon kay ila naman nga gikuha ang mga multicabs maglakaw na lang ang mga tawo gikan sa bukid,” said Sanchez.

Sanchez presented reporters copies of the Memorandum of Agreement for the use of the multicabs owned by the provincial government and donated to the barangays.

Sanchez said he signed the Memorandum of Agreement in behalf of the provincial while he was the acting Governor of Cebu on April 23, 2008.

The Memorandum of Agreement states that the Province of Cebu retains the ownership. As such, the province of Cebu shall be responsible for the registration, insurance and other necessary and required licenses for the operation of said multicabs.

The subject multicabs shall be used as official service and utility vehicle of the local government unit to which they are assigned.

He said that Capitol employees should inform him first before they pulled out the multicabs in the three barangays.

Sanchez supported Mayor Aljun Diamante who defeated mayoralty candidate Rosemarie Suezo, the candidate of One Cebu Party headed by Governor Gwen Garcia.

Sanchez said after Pinamungajan town, Capitol is now targeting Tuburan town.

Earlier, Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha questioned the recall of four multicabs from barangays Camugao, Tanibag, Lamac and Butong in her town.

“The provincial government did not have the courtesy of calling me that they will get back the vehicles especially that Garcia offered them to the barangays through me,” Yapha said.

Sepulveda said the vehicles were not even recalled but confiscated since these were used for illegal activities.

Sepulveda said they received complaints that the barangay officials used the multicabs during the campaign period.

He said that some witnesses issued affidavits to support the claims the multicabs were misused. — THE FREEMAN