Raps filed against Pasig City mayor for closing road

A lawyer asked the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to cite for contempt Pasig City Mayor Robert Eusebio who ordered the closure of a main road for a city hall event that caused a traffic jam and prevented lawyers and witnesses to attend court hearings yesterday morning.

Lawyer Mel Mauricio and other motorists were caught in traffic caused by the closure of the Caruncho Avenue, that was used for the 63rd Anniversary of the Liberation of Pasig.

Mauricio, founder of party-list group Batas (Bagong Alyansang Tapagtaguyod ng Adhikaing Sambayanan), said motorists and commuters, including lawyers and witnesses, were stranded and were late for work and court hearings at the Pasig RTC because of the traffic jam. 

The lawyer filed a motion in behalf of Pasig residents  at the sala of Regional Trial Court Branch 157 Judge Esperanza Fabon-Victorino to cite Mayor Eusebio for contempt.

Mauricio said he had a hearing at the courtroom of Judge Victorino scheduled at 8:30 a.m. but the litigants were caught in traffic and were not  able to present their evidence.

“There is therefore a need for the local government of Pasig City, particularly its city mayor, Hon. Roberto Eusebio, to be cited for contempt, and for it (and him) to be directed not to repeat the same closure of the road in the future or the holding of any activity in the middle of any road,” Mauricio said.

Mauricio said litigants and their lawyers failed to attend the 8 a.m. court hearings after Eusebio ordered the closure of Caruncho Avenue which was the main road leading to the courts. yesterday.

He asked the court to determine if mayors and local government units, particularly in Metro Manila, can close roads and other thoroughfares to hold anniversary celebrations andother activities that cause traffic jams and create inconvenience to the public.

“Problemado na tayo sa ganitong mga pagsasara ng kalsada,” Mauricio said.

In the motion for contempt submitted by Mauricio to Victorino, the lawyer explained that all motorists coming from C-5 Road and on their way to the Pasig City Hall and the Pasig market were barred from using Caruncho Avenue by uniformed men. The traffic standstill took more than one hour, he said.

The Pasig public information office (PIO) clarified that only half of Caruncho Avenue was closed to traffic. 

Superintendent Virgilio Fulachel, chief of the Pasig traffic and parking management, said the traffic flow during the liberation day event was orderly.

He said only the southbound lane of the avenue was closed because of the wreath laying at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani monument.

Pasig Liberation Day us an annual celebration in the city to honor the Filipino guerrillas who fought and died to liberate Pasig from the Japanese occupation forces.

The affair was attended by Mayor Eusebio and other city officials.