THE president of towing company Jadewell Parking System Corp. confirmed that some Mandaue City officials requested the waiver of penalties or charges for towed or impounded vehicles belonging to their friends or acquaintances.
“This is because pagkakaibigan (friendship) at palakasan (power play) is part of Filipino culture. There were written requests coming from City Hall while others were verbally instructed,” Rogelio Tan told Cebu Daily News.
He said some city officials whom he did not name would call their branch manager engineer, Tomas Villanueva, who has the authority to approve their requests.
But he said they verify the requests of name droppers.
If a motorist claims that he knows a city official, Tan said they ask him to call the city official as proof. They countercheck if the call was made.
Tan said if some requests were not accommodated, that would have been made a basis for the city government to review their contract and they will be called to the City Council. Their excuses won’t be accepted.
“I am 76 years old now but I’m used to this issue. I should have entered another business and not this kind of political magnet business,” Tan said.
“Anybody that we tow in pursuance to our mandate and contract with the local government in establishing discipline among motorist will always be affected due to some politicians.”
Jadewell has a gross income of P100,000 per month.
Tan said they are not a towing company but a pay parking system who does towing if necessary.
City Administrator James Abadia told Cebu Daily News that he endorsed an investigation of the issue to the City Legal Office headed by lawyer Giovanni Tianero.
Abadia said they still don’t have any idea who are the city officials involved.
He said the names of the officials may have possibly been used.
If found out that there are really city officials endorsing waiving penalties, they will be made to explain.
He said they will still study if administrative charges could be filed against the city officials. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos