CITOM: Issuance of bench warrant versus erring drivers to continue

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Traffic Operations Management has turned down the request of transport groups for CITOM to stop issuing bench warrants against drivers who commit traffic violations.

“It cannot be. Our mandate is to enforce traffic laws and file cases against traffic violators,” CITOM Executive Director Rafael Yap said.

The transport groups made the request on the bench warrant during a dialogue with Vice Mayor Edgar Labella last week.

Yap contended that enforcing the law would be the fair thing to do. He advised motorists to abide by traffic rules and regulations and pay the penalty for a violation to avoid getting issued a bench warrant.

“Mobayad sa penalty sa ilang violations para dili sila malutsan og bench warrants. Unfair pud if they will not follow the mandates of the law,” he said.

Labella may have met the transport groups but said the City Council, which he presides, does not have authority over the issue.

“We don’t have control on that (bench warrants) because it’s the verdict of the court of law,” he said.

The stricter enforcement of traffic laws arose from the issuance of controversial Joint Administrative Order 2014-01, which stipulates higher penalties for road violations.

The order is now under review but Labella said the groups my bring their concerns to court.

“We have to help them and understand their plight over JAO, though it’s a national statute. We would be providing measures or legal assistance to them,” he said.

 Another meeting has been set on October 10 between the transport groups, City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas, Councilor Richard Osmena, Yap and Labella, to discuss possible interventions that City Council might be able to put in place to instill discipline among drivers.

The JAO was enforced to instill discipline especially among drivers of public utility vehicles, prevent road accidents, ease the perennial traffic jams, clampdown on unregistered or “colorum” vehicles, among others.

The order took effect last July 19, which was jointly implemented by Department of Transportation and Communications, Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Last week, members of transport groups Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide-Cebu (PISTON-Cebu) and the Alliance of Transport Organization Members Intra-Cebu (ATOMIC) took their opposition to the JAO to the streets, but the movement did not make any major dent on the traffic situation in Metro Cebu. — /JMO (FREEMAN)