Mayor orders early release of motorcycles

Some of the impounded motorcycles at the South Road Properties (SRP). CDN File Photo

Saying that violators of his executive order against counter-flowing have “learned their lesson,” Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña confirmed that he will allow the early release of all impounded motorcycles next week.

The mayor said he made the decision based on an assessment by the City’s Traffic Office (CTO) that there were no cases of repeat violations on EO 34 to ban counterflowing vehicles in city roads and streets.

“So far our reading is that many have been released and there’s no case of second violations so that means nakat-on na gyud sila (they have learned) so now I say okay,” he told reporters in yesterday’s press briefing.

“I don’t like to punish people but you cannot make it affordable. You cannot make it painless since there’s no effect. So now I think I made my point.

Now I will let go, but if I catch you again you know what’s going to happen to you; at least it’s fair this way,” Osmeña said.

The mayor’s Facebook post on March 31 showed there were 22 passenger jeepneys, 27 private vehicles, three taxis, 408 motorcycles, six trucks and one bus that were impounded at the SRP for violating the counterflow ban.

But Osmeña said four-wheeled vehicles will remain in the impounding area in the SRP while motorcycles that have pending violations will not be released.