Inventory order: Spare brgy vehicles - Labella

CEBU, Philippines - As the ultimatum for the return of all City Hall-issued vehicles ends today, suspended Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgar Labella said government vehicles issued to the barangays should be exempted from the order of acting Mayor Margot Osmeña.

He explained that most vehicles in the barangays are also being used for emergency purposes, some even for funeral services.

Under the order, vehicles needed for daily operations such ambulances are exempted.

"I think most if not all of these barangay captain vehicles are used for emergency purposes and even used as funeral cars by barangay captains, and if these were the intention then why (should) these vehicles used by barangay captains (be recalled)?" he said.

He went on to say, "Because as what I've read in the order vehicles that are used for emergency purposes (are exempted). These vehicles used by barangay captains are multi-purpose vehicles. I've seen some of these barangay vehicles used as funeral cars."

However, Osmeña stood pat on her order, saying that vehicles issued to employees and other special bodies are even covered by the memorandum.

"Just return okay? Please just return," she said.

She added that an inventory should be made first before determining who is still entitled to still use the vehicles.

"Then we will see who deserves and who should have one… First of all, we need to see how many (vehicles) do we have? And still, we need to find out where they are," she explained.

 She mentioned issuing again a vehicle to the city's Parks and Playgrounds Commission when the office asked for it back after the inventory so they could continue their daily operation such as watering plans in the center islands of the city.

"Mihangyo sila nga kung mahimo nga nabalik naman sa GSO, na inventory na, so they're asking if they could have it back, I said "no problem" because they need it kay ilang sakyanan especially for the parks and playgrounds… That one is a very clear example that they need it and they use it," she said.

 When asked about the concern of barangay captains in the mountain barangays who refused to return the vehicles, Osmeña said that their mobility does not only depend on the vehicle issued by the city.

"Sa ilahang mobility to go to city? Naa'y habal-habal, I mean before that naa ba sila'y sakyanan? Di ba? Okay, ako lang i-ano ha. There were kapitans who had and there were kapitans who did not have. Ang kapitans nga wala pa nakadawat sa una ba, nagreklamo ba sila that they could not do their duty? Did they say that I cannot perform my duty as a barangay kapitan because wala ko kadawat ug sakyanan? Wala. So what makes them different? When you run for a kapitan is it because 'I'm going to get a car?'" she said.

Believing that the recall is only "harassment", Association of Barangay Councils President Philip Zafra said they will write a letter to ask for reconsideration.

He said that the vehicles were utilized not by the barangay captains alone but also used for emergency purposes especially during typhoon and rescue operations.

 "Kami ang ma dali-dali sa mga tawo kay we are in a form of public service," he said.

 He said that they will be greatly affected since the vehicles serve as their mode of transportation whenever they respond to an alarm.

 "It is not about the vehicles, it is about public service," he added.

 Also, he said that if the turning over of the vehicles is only for the purpose of inventory, the city can just field staff to go to the different barangays and check on the vehicles.

 When asked about how many were signified to return the city cars, he said that he does not have the exact figures as of now.

 "Wala ko'y picture or idea sa kung kinsa'y mga niuli," he said.

Willing to work

During an interview with The FREEMAN yesterday, Labella expressed his gratitude after winning the vice mayoralty race in the city of Cebu and said he is willing to work with anyone, even members of the opposing Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan party including Cebu City mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña.

Labella, who once ran under BOPK, said that they remain friends and they do not have any personal quarrel between them.

While the incoming city council will be made up mostly of Team Rama councilors, Labella said he will not use this to obstruct BOPK.

"I do not want to take advantage for being in the majority… to become obstructionist. That's never in my vocabulary to be an obstructionist to anything," said Labella.

Labella has an opinion why he earned a third term as vice mayor.

"Of course, as such member of the opposing political fence, I think the reason why the people of the City of Cebu voted the vice mayor to belong to the other side of political fence is to uphold the principle of check and balances, to let democracy work in the City of Cebu, I think that is the main reason," Labella said. — Oliver Julius T. Lape, Aaron A. Sagaoinit, Edwina G. Marantal, CNU Comm Interns

and Michael Vencynth H. Braga/BRP (FREEMAN)