'Impounding was illegal': Byron scolds traffic police

CEBU, Philippines – Former Capitol consultant and brother of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Byron Garcia, figured in another controversy, this time with the personnel of the City Traffic and Operations Management (CITOM).

The controversy stemmed when Byron reportedly scolded some personnel of the CITOM at the Traffic Group office after the motorcycle of his errand boy, Filomeno Rodriguez, was impounded.

Rodriguez was driving his motorcycle with plate number 7356 QR at past 10 pm last Saturday when policemen from San Nicolas Police flagged him down at a checkpoint on V. Rama Avenue and was asked to show the pertinent documents of his motorcycle.

When Rodriguez failed to show his driver's license and instead only showed a student permit, the police confiscated his motorcycle and turned it over to the office of the Traffic Group along N. Bacalso Ave.

He was, however, able to present official receipt and certificate of registration of the vehicle.

Rodriguez, a resident of barangay Kalunasan, informed his employer, Byron, about the matter.

Byron, in an interview with The FREEMAN, said that Rodriguez heard one of the policemen at the Traffic Group office saying, "Ngano diay ug si Byron 'na? Kitaon 'ta ang iyang ka-astig."

Byron, together with Rodriguez, went to the Traffic Group office where he questioned the duty officer, SPO1 Prieto Villahermosa, about the basis for the impoundment of the motorcycle.

Villahermosa allegedly reasoned out that the motorcycle must be impounded since Rodriguez was not able to show a driver's license.

"Ako sila gipangutana unsa nga ordinance nag-pakita nga pwede i-impound ang motorcycle kung di maka-pakita og driver's license. Mao 'tong nagkalalis kay mo-argue man g'yud 'tong si Villahermosa na i-impound g'yud lagi," Byron said.

As to the reports that the traffic personnel claimed that the motorcycle was only held for safekeeping, Byron said there were media practitioners who can testify that the word Villahermosa used was "impound."

"Nagpautot ra man 'to sila pirmero. Hambugero kaayo, trabaho ra daw ang ilaha. Naa man gud 'na sila'y raket na i-impound imong sakyanan para makabayad na sad og storage fee," Byron added.

Byron, who is a former deputized agent of the Land Transportation Office-7, said he know the traffic laws.

"Kung wala'y maipakita na driver's license, tangtangan ra man na og plaka then i-turn over sa LTO-7 then adto na ipa-claim sa tag-iya sa sakyanan. Dili kay i-impound. That's why I'm urging the public to stand up against these highway bullies. Some of them don't know what they're doing and are not complying with the ordinance. Ayaw mo pailad sa mga CITOM," Byron said.

Byron said that later in the course of the argument, the traffic personnel went inside their office while he and his men took the motorcycle.

"Ako sila giingnan na kuhaon g'yud ni nako ning motor. Pugngi lang unya ko ninyo kung makapakita na mo sa ordinance. They did not give to me the key, so ako sila giawhag na i-uli na ang key and not illegally keep it," he added.

Chief Insp. Andres Bayarcal, when sought for comment, said they have nothing against Byron.

However, Bayarcal said that Rodriguez has to pay P500 for failing to show a valid driver's license and is giving him seven days to pay it. -/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)