Caught smoking in public Brgy councilman ‘throws fit, snubs citation ticket’

CEBU, Philippines - A councilman of Barangay Pari-an, Cebu City allegedly got angry and refused to take the citation ticket issued against him for violating the ordinance against smoking in public places.

He was among the 292 persons issued tickets by the Cebu City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team during All Souls’ Day for littering and for smoking inside the city’s cemeteries.

But Pari-an Barangay councilman Alan Dilao, who was seen smoking inside the Carreta Cemetery, was the only one who allegedly refused to accept his ticket.

“Ang ingon sa akong staff, nasuko siya unya dili gyod dawaton ang (Our staff said Dilao got angry and refused to receive the) citation ticket. Nangisog ug nagbinastos pa man gani (He even grew angry and insulting),” said Grace Luardo, CESET Chief.

Luardo said CESET will pursue legal action if Dilao will not go to her office and settle his fine.

“Naa mi (We will wait for him) until November 11 mohuwat ; and if dili siya moadto sa office, mokiha gyud mi (he would not come to our office an settle his fine, we will bring him to court),” she said, adding that CESET does not choose whom they would apprehend as long as the person clearly violates the law.

In a telephone interview with The FREEMAN last night, however, Dilao denied the allegation, including the claim that he insulted the CESET staff who issued him the ticket.

“Wala gyud na nahitabo. Kahibawo baya ta nga nay daghang tawo kay menteryo. Ug kahibawo pud ta nga barangay official ta nga mo-implement sab og balaod,” he said.

He admitted smoking at the cemetery and that the citation ticket issued was even in his possession during the interview.

He complained that the “no smoking” notice was too small for everyone to see, but added that he would show up at the CESET office today to negotiate for a lower fine.

He claimed that the allegation that he refused to accept the ticket and even got angry when issued was “politically motivated,” as he belongs to the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan group.

Luardo said the 292 individuals were issued citation tickets for violating City Ordinance 2241 (The Compre-hensive Anti-Smoking Ordi-nance of the City of Cebu) and City Ordinance 1361 (An establishing a system of garbage collection, imposing fees therefor, and appropriating funds and for other related purposes).

She said the violators were caught either smoking, or spitting, or littering in public places.

Those apprehended for violating CO 2241 are fined P1,500 each while those caught violating CO 1361 are fined P500 each.

Of the 292 CESET caught, 99 were apprehended at the Carreta cemetery, which is one of the busiest cemeteries of  the city; 102 at Calamba cemetery; 37 at Talamban Public cemetery; 24 at Pardo cemetery; 12 at Luz cemetery; 28 at Sudlon, six  at Labangon cemetery, and four at Mawmawan cemetery.

Luardo advised the violators to pay the fine as soon as possible to avoid being sued.

“Naa man tay laing options kon dili sila kabayad sa (There are options available for those who cannot pay the) settlement fees.  Naa man tay paagi ana. Ang atoa lang is dapat moadto gyod sila sa office para mo-settle (We have other ways for that.  But they first should go to our office and signify their intent to settle the fine),” she said.

Last Saturday, CESET issued citation tickets to 378 persons, some of whom Luardo said have already went to the CESET office to discuss their fines.  (FREEMAN)