Naga to file case versus smoke test worker

CEBU, Philippines – Charges are being readied against an employee of a smoke testing center in the City of Naga commissioned to supposedly facilitate a city-owned truck's registration but has not allegedly turned up for six months now.

Mayor Valdemar Chiong's information officer Gary Cabotaje said a case will be filed against the employee of Kidapawan Smoke Emission Testing Center located in Barangay Colon as soon the city government gets all the necessary documents needed.

The FREEMAN is withholding the name of the worker pending the filing of the case, although Cabotaje said the mayor was already aware of the incident.

"The incident happened sometime in March this year. Atong empleyado nga na-assign as motorpool in-charge of the General Services Office mi-approach sa usa ka empleyado sa maong smoke emission testing center kay mi-personal man og offer aron mao'y mo-facilitate sa pag-register," Cabotaje said.

Cabotaje identified the motorpool in-charge as Raymundo Mantalaba, a regular employee of the city under the GSO.

Mantalaba told The FREEMAN the city's Isuzu Forward truck with plate number SDY 346 has not yet been registered until now.

Mantalaba said the employee of the smoke emission testing center asked for P11,000 in cash as registration and professional fees to work out the vehicle's registration reportedly for two and a half month.

At one point after the deal, the smoke testing center employee claimed that the vehicle had the same motor vehicle file with a vehicle in Jagna town, Bohol, according to Mantalaba.

This allegedly made it difficult for the employee to register the vehicle and ask extension.

"He promised to return the exact amount should he fail to register the vehicle," Mantalaba said, " but I could no longer find him since I handed the amount to him last May."

"This despite my diligent efforts to look for him, including in his workplace at Barangay Colon," he added.

The management of the smoke testing firm is still mum on the issue.