Owner of car caught illegally parked shoots, destroys CCTO’s clamp

CEBU, Philippines — Melbert Destriza’s car was caught illegally parked on General Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City yesterday, but he may face more than just the P1,000 penalty for the violation.

A slew of charges that include malicious mischief and illegal discharge of firearm may be slapped against him for firing twice at the city government’s clamp on his car.

The clamping tool, which costs P45,000 to the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), was destroyed because of the firing.

Police records showed that CCTO personnel and members of the Traffic Patrol Group (TPG) chanced upon Destriza’s white Honda City car with temporary plate number DV 9713 illegally stationed on the sidewalk at around 8 a.m. yesterday.

Seeing it obstructing the road, authorities immediately clamped down his vehicle.

“Ang atong CITOM ug personnel sa TPG niagi sila area, and nakita nila ang sakyanan naka-park sa no parking zone. Standard operating procedure man na, gi-clamp,” Superintendent Conrado Manatad, chief of TPG, told reporters yesterday.

If the owner of the vehicle is not around, it is CCTO’s practice to just leave the vehicle and call for a truck to tow it.

However, witnesses told the police that while the authorities were away, Destriza, 27, pulled out an undetermined caliber of firearm and shot the clamp.

When the clamp was detached, he immediately fled from the scene.

Manatad said Destriza may have lost his cool when he learned of the clampdown. His live-in partner told the police that Destriza resides in Barangay Labangon.

“Sa kalagot nga na-clamp ang sakyanan, gipusil,” Manatad said.

The vehicle was later towed to CCTO’s impoundment area at the South Road Properties.

As of 7 p.m. yesterday, police said Destriza remained at large. He will face charges for violation of City Ordinance 1929 for illegal discharge of firearm, as well as malicious mischief.

‘Impound forever’

The city government will pursue charges against Destriza.

At a press conference yesterday, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the enforcer cannot be faulted for clamping the illegally-parked vehicle because he was merely doing his job.

“We’ll file cases against him. (We will) impound (his vehicle) forever, not 30 days, until he’s convicted because that’s evidence of the crime,” Osmeña said.

He also announced that except on special cases, the city will no longer grant adjudication or lowering of penalties for violations relating to illegal parking.

“Effective Monday, no more adjudication on clamping. And if you are caught clamping, no more adjudication on your past records,” he said.

Osmeña cited an instance in which a political leader from Barangay Busay, who was actually his ally, requested adjudication after three of the latter’s public utility jeepneys were clamped down.

One jeepney had outstanding penalties of P700,000 for past violations; the second had P400,000; and the third, P200,000.

Osmeña said he did not grant the adjudication because “allies are not exempted” in his campaign against traffic violations.

Nevertheless, he gave P20,000 in assistance to his political leader.

“My objective is also to improve the safety of the people of Cebu and to put order,” he said. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo (FREEMAN)