LTO-7 director to investigate 'harassment'

CEBU, Philippines - Land Transportation Office-7 director Raul Aguilos said he will look into the alleged harassment by the six LTO deputized agents over the weekend.

Aguilos said that Cebu City treasurer Ofelia Oliva and her daughter have the right to lodge a complaint against the Task Force Alpha members who allegedly harassed them.

Task Force Alpha is a volunteer group accredited by LTO to assist in the implementation of traffic laws.

Operating only in Cebu City, the task force has at least 80 volunteer members.

 Aguilos explained that a member is not allowed to operate alone and that the members only operate as a group under supervision by a LTO agent.

“They do not operate everyday but on a special schedule made by LTO,” Aguilos said.

He said deputized agents who violated their order will have their deputization revoked.

Aguilos said they discourage roadside arguments or altercations as these would only create commotion.

It is best for the complainants, he said, to go to their office and lodge the complaint.

He added that the incident involving Oliva and her daughter, Karen Olvido, happened when the six task force members led by Stephen Yabañez were conducting the “Oplan Ilaw” campaign Friday night.

Ybañez was reportedly giving signal to Olvido about the defective headlights of her car.

Olvido said she asked the agent to tap on the lights as they were reportedly loose.

Ybañez, however, allegedly retorted, “Imo kong gisugo (Are you giving me orders)?” and demanded for Olvido’s driver’s license. Olvido refused and reportedly closed the window of her car.

Still demanding for the license, Ybañez allegedly knocked on the car window hard and called on his companions.

A female member of the group later joined in knocking on the car window hard, demanding for her license, Olvido said.

The incident caused a traffic jam in the area.

Oliva and Olvido, 35, reported the incident to the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office. 

Olvido said she was driving along Escario Street around 6:30 p.m. when she was flagged down by a group of men.

She later learned that the men, led by Ybañez, are members of the Task Force Alpha.

Olvido said she was embarrassed because passersby were starting to notice the commotion. Fearing for her security, she then called her mother for help.

She said no LTO officer was present at that time and that the Task Force Alpha members were only wearing shirts with the “LTO” letters printed on the back.

“Wa niya gihatag iyang license kay gi-instruct daw siya sa iyang mommy na dili basta-basta muhatag sa driver’s license kay daghang binuang karon (She did not hand over her license because her mother instructed her not to, considering many unscrupulous activities these days),” said IDMB head Chief Insp. Bonifacio Garciano.

Oliva arrived later with Olvido’s husband, who then took pictures of the situation.

This reportedly irked Ybañez, who allegedly challenged him to a fistfight. “Unsa man, sumbagay ta (What now, would you want a fistfight)?”

Oliva reportedly managed to stop Ybañez from almost hitting her son-in-law.

“Oliva then received demeaning words from the female enforcer and Ybañez in a loud and embarrassing manner which causes fear, annoyance and anxiety in (sic) the part of both victims,” reads the IDMB report.

Garciano said personnel of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team arrived in the area and settled the incident.

In the end, the Task Force Alpha members failed to get Olvido’s driver’s license.

Garciano said Oliva is determined to file charges against the task force members.

“Mga isog kuno kaayo ug mga hambugero. Gusto daw niya patilawon ug tagam (The task force members were too arrogant. She wants to teach them a lesson,” Garciano said.

-/LPM (FREEMAN)