‘Only AFP can approve road request’

THE Capitol’s request to open the Central Command (Centcom) road to private vehicles to decongest traffic along the Banilad-Talamban area will have to be reviewed by the Armed Forces.

Centcom chief Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva said only their headquarters can decide on the matter since their camp rules and regulations governing the entry of vehicles is under the AFP Integrated Camp Security System.

Under the rule, vehicles owned by military, civilian, retirees, family members, guests or visitors under any offices inside AFP camps and installations are subjected to proper security procedures and are required to have a decal or sticker.

Likewise, all civilians transacting business inside military camps undergo the same security procedures.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia with Cebu City Integrated Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) chairman Sylvan Jakosalem sent a letter to Centcom requesting for the opening of the Camp Lapu-Lapu road to private vehicles from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to decongest the traffic situation in Banilad-Talamban area.

The Camp Lapu-Lapu road is an access road from barangay Apas to a road leading to  Banilad and Talamban area.

But Villanueva said they have not received a formal request from Citom, but only a copy of the minutes of the meeting.

Villanueva said they already informed Jakosalem in June that the decision to open the road must come from headquarters.

Centcom Public Information Office Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus said at present, only vehicles with Centcom stickers can pass through the Centcom road. /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus