Jeepney drivers who are wanted for traffic violations are able to escape apprehension by the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) by driving jeepneys plying different routes.
“Wala na mu-drive sa ila na-andan nga unit ang ubang drivers nga wanted. Dunay posibilidad nga mi-drive sila ug laing rota (Some of the wanted drivers are not using the vehicles they used to drive. There’s a possibility that they are now driving jeepneys with a different route,” said Citom operations chief Joy Tumulak.
Tumulak said they are consolidating information from their traffic enforcers to crack down on violators.
Those apprehended were advised to deal directly with Citom rather than resort to evasion, Tumulak said.
“They should take this (issuance of bench warrants) positively. This is their opportunity to explain their side,” he said.
He cited as an example one of the violators who personally went to Judge Monolila Tecson, who issued the bench warrants. Tumulak said the motorist was issued only one Traffic Citation Ticket (TCT) for not wearing a helmet.
The motorist also paid a P500 fine after seeing the judge and was later released.
“This is a good example that drivers should not be lax because even if he only get one violation, he was still issued a bench warrant by the court,” he said.
Tumulak added that they noted a decrease in the issuance of TCTs for traffic rules violations.
“Based on my talks with the traffic enforcers, we have observed lesser traffic violations since the news of the issuance of bench warrants came out,” Tumulak said.
“The release of the news served as an eye-opener for other violators that they should follow traffic rules. It really helped a lot,” he added.
Last Saturday morning, Citom caught another one of the 32 traffic violators who were issued bench warrants by the court.
Emilio Pardenilla has a pending P38,000 penalty. He works as a security guard of the Cebu City Engineering office during the day and drives a 44-A route jeepney, from Naga to Cebu City, at night.
He is detained at the Citom mini-cell pending a court visit today. Citom caught nine out of the 32 violators so far.