Cambinocot village chief and aspiring Cebu City councilor Rey Lauron said three barangay vehicles were allegedly confiscated by personnel of Cebu City Government’s Department of General Services due to political reasons. Lauron is running as Councilor of Cebu City and is allied with opposition party. Partido Barug. CDND Photo / DELTA LETIGIO
CEBU CITY — Cambinocot village chief Rey Lauron described the alleged confiscation of three barangay vehicles as a “political move” made by the camp of Mayor Tomas Osmeña to pressure those who are not allied with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) party.
Lauron, who is running as councilor under the slate of Partido Barug led by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, said the Cebu City Government confiscated three vehicles, including an ambulance, on March 27, two days before the start of the campaign period.
Lauron said the vehicles have been with the barangays since 2016.
“It is clearly a political move. If I did not run for councilor under Barug, they would not have taken the vehicles,” Lauron told reporters the sidelines of the opening salvo program on the first day of the campaign period in Barangay Ermita,
Lauron said the keys to the garage, where the vehicles were parked, were not handed to the personnel of the Department of General Services (DGS) who were present to take the vehicles.
But Lauron alleged that the DGS personnel forcibly opened the gates.
Lauron said there were only a handful of people, who attended the BOPK event in Barangay Cambinocot, which may have earned the ire of Mayor Osmeña.
But Osmeña, in his official Facebook page, wrote that the vehicles were only recalled for repair since they were no longer working.
In a status posted at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 29, 2019, Osmeña said the ambulance is back in the barangay.
“Cambinocot, your ambulance is back in your barangay and ready for service. The damaged brakes have been replaced, bald tires changed to new ones, and unlike before, a full medical team is now assigned to it,” said Osmeña.
The incumbent mayor added that the ambulance also has a driver, “who will not charge P300” as gas money for the use of the ambulance.
“The ambulance is supposed to be a FREE service from the city, not the personal transportation and money-making venture of a certain brgy. (barangay) official,” wrote Osmeña.
Although Osmeña did not name the barangay official, Lauron denied that he used the vehicles for personal use.
He called on Osmeña to return the other vehicles, including the L300 van and Mazda Bongo rescue patrol vehicle, which he said are needed by residents when there are emergencies and activities that they have to attend to. / celr