‘Wanted’ traffic violators asked to surrender

TRAFFIC violators who’ve been issued bench warrants are advised to voluntarily surrender so they can negotiate for a reduced penalty.

“We are willing to help them properly surrender. It will be better so we can help find solutions for their problems. We can even give them a discount if they are sincere,” Joy Tumulak, Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) operations chief said.

Last Tuesday, Tumulak said a taxi driver voluntarily surrendered to the Citom office and asked for help.

The taxi driver had a pending P10,000 penalty but Tumulak said he was told to pay a lower fine.

“We issued an affidavit of desistance that was accepted by Judge Monolila Tecson and the taxi driver’s case was dismissed after settling the penalty,” Tumulak told Cebu Daily News.

He was one of the several violators who were issued 58 more bench warrants last Monday.

This adds to the 32 bench warrants earlier issued by Judge Tecson of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC).

But those caught in the act of violating traffic rules by Citom personnel won’t be as lucky. Citom caught two of the 58 additional violators yesterday.

Randy Campaner and Gaudioso Zuniega Jr. were apprehended by Citom enforcers while passing through their usual route from Minglanilla town to Cebu City.

Campaner has 156 violations with a pending P55,600 penalty while Zuniega registered 51 violations with a P16,300 fine.

They were immediately brought before Judge Tecson and filed motions to lift the bench warrants. The judge rescheduled their hearing, Tumulak said.

Tumulak said it would be best for these violators to surrender before an arrest warrant is issued against them. /Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita