CLO thumbs down village chief’s plea

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Legal Office (CLO) has denied Zapatera village chief Francisco Benedicto’s request for exemption of payment of fine for a clamped barangay vehicle.

City Legal Officer Rey Gealon said a Barangay Zapatera-owned vehicle was clamped by elements of the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) for allegedly parking by the roadside.

“’Dura lex, sed lex.’ The law may be harsh, but it is the law. A fine is not even that harsh of a penalty but has to be imposed, nonetheless.  It must be imposed to anyone regardless of being in government or not. After all, the mayor's marching order is to abide by the rule of law,” he said.

Benedicto, in his letter to Mayor Edgardo Labella dated December 10, 2019, stated that the barangay bus was clamped along Sikatuna Street. He said it is due for repair as it is “not functional and no longer safe to transport people.”

He added they intend to have the bus towed to a repair shop once they have a vehicle capable of towing it.

“I respectfully would have to ask a favor from you. Would there be a possibility that we can be given consideration just for this instance Mayor? We do not have personal money and capability to pay for the release of the clamp because we do not have a treasurer at this point,” read Benedicto’s letter.

“If you can’t help out, I completely understand because clamping is part of making the Cebuanos realize that there is a change happening in Cebu City under your leadership as mayor and that LGUs need to shape up and support this change. Even LGUs are not exempted from this mandate, but I thought I’d ask,” the letter further read.

CLO, in a letter to Benedicto, stated that, as the chief executive of the barangay, he has the corresponding responsibility to see to it that local laws or ordinances, such as those relating to parking and traffic, are fully implemented in his jurisdiction.

“You should show good example to the public by parking barangay vehicles at appropriate designated areas,” read CLO’s letter.  GAN (FREEMAN)