Man files raps versus Cortes, traffic chief

CEBU, Philippines - A Cebu City resident has filed an administrative complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas against Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and his traffic chief for alleged violation of the city's traffic ordinances.

Marlon Sarmiento, a resident of Maracas, Lahug, Cebu City, accused Cortes and Edwin Ermac, head of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, of disregarding the traffic ordinances of the city by allowing public utility drivers to load and unload passengers in a no stopping area.

Sarmiento said that Cortes and Ermac also violated the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for failing to enforce the traffic law.

"For the security, safety and convenience of the riding public in Mandaue City, the Parkmall terminal was created, provided and recognized by the Mandaue City government as their accredited terminal but none the less of some individual with the support or direct supervision or by tolerance from certain individual in the TEAM, an illegal terminal sprouted in front of Mandaue City Hall of Justice," the complainant's affidavit read.

According to Sarmeinto, sometime in September he had a "casual altercation" with TEAM traffic personnel after he complained about the PUJ he was riding from Ayala terminal to Parkmall because it did not enter the Parkmall terminal to unload passengers. He said he walked from the Mandaue Hall of Justice to Parkmall.

Sarmiento said every time he goes to Parkmall he observed that most of the PUJs made a stop in front of the Mandaue Hall of Justice.

He personally experienced it twice prompting him to ask a copy of the city's traffic ordinances from the City Hall.

"Perusal of said traffic ordinances of Mandaue City, neither said ordinances allow that the PUJs from Ayala Mall, Cebu City, can legally make use of the area in front of the Mandaue City Hall of Justice as a terminal nor provide that the PUJs from Cebu City with Ibabao and Ouano route can make a stop to unload or load passengers in front of the Mandaue City Hall of Justice," he said.—  (FREEMAN)