Mabanto’s exit sought

More than 100 jeepney and tricycle drivers  marched to  Mandaue City Hall yesterday morning to demand the ouster of Assistant Prosecutor  Bienvenido Mabanto from the city’s traffic enforcement agency.

Drivers complained that Mabanto would scold them when approached for help on traffic violations and other matters.

“Just because he’s dealing with poor drivers doesn’t mean he can treat us like children,” said Edward Geolin, council member of the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo (NADSU).  He said Mabanto would act arrogantly and berate them for opposing  the yearly payment of P570 tricycle franchise fee, which was revised from once every three years.

Mabanto refused to be interviewed.

“No way, I’ve had enough of you!” he told reporters.   The prosecutor had his share of bad publicity when his flareups with motorists were reported in the news (See table.)

“Remove Mabanto as co-chairman of TEAM (Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue),” read one of the placards carried by the drivers.

Jeepney drivers from Consolacion, Lilo-an, Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City along with tricycle drivers from the city marched from the Mandaue City Coliseum with a signed petition.

At least  587 drivers signed  the petition demanding Mabanto’s ouster from TEAM and the Traffic Management Board (TMB) where he sits as vice chairman.

Eutiquio Sanchez, TEAM chairman, said they reverted to the yearly payment of tricycle franchise fee instead of three years to regulate the number of operators which rose to 10,000. Sanchez accepted the petition addressed to Mayor Jonas Cortes and the Mandaue City Council. /Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos