CITOM sues MPG cop for illegal parking

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Traffic Operations Management has recently filed a complaint against a member of the Mobile Patrol Group before the City Prosecutor’s Office for violating traffic rules.

MPG police officer Robinson Antecristo’s failure to settle the P500 penalty for parking a patrol car (SHN 896) on a “No Parking” zone along Ramos Street on March 3 prompted CITOM to lodge a complaint.

Lawyer Carlo Vincent Gimena of the City Legal Office and the CITOM-Traffic Violation Bureau said Antecristo violated City Ordinance 801, otherwise known as the Traffic Code of Cebu City.

Affiant Allein Pilare, a traffic enforcer, said he issued a citation ticket against Antecristo for “disregarding traffic sign of no parking” and asked the latter to pay the penalty within three days from receiving the citation at the CITOM office located at Ramos Public Market.

However, Antecristo allegedly did not show up for settlement.

For not settling the penalty, the MPG officer may be issued with a bench warrant by the prosecutor’s office.

To avoid the filing of a case in court, CITOM reiterates its appeal among drivers to settle monetary obligations. The agency said it will withdraw the complaint if the drivers settle their obligations within the required period.

“Please do not disregard or violate traffic signs to avoid the issuance of bench warrants,” CITOM operations chief Joy Tumulak said.

Executive Judge Francisco Seville of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities has issued bench warrants against 307 public and private drivers in the city who are now facing arrests for failing to settle their obligations for traffic violations.

Covered by the warrant are 103 public utility vehicle drivers, 48 taxi drivers, and 27 owners of private vehicles.

Mayor Michael Rama supports the move of CITOM in filing a case against the policeman and other erring motorists.

“Mas maayo na kasohan. Nobody is above the law,” said Rama, as he advised traffic enforcers not to be afraid in apprehending all those who violate the city’s traffic rules. — (FREEMAN)