Transport group asks CH to waive traffic fines

A transport group in Cebu is asking the Cebu City government to waive the traffic fines their members have accumulated over the years.

In a dialogue with Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella last week, the Alliance of Transport Organization Members Intra-Cebu (Atomic) said most cases filed against their members by the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) were already beyond the 60-day prescription period.

Labella supported the point raised by the group as this was his stand when he was city councilor.

“They said the accumulated fines shouldn’t be collected anymore. In order for the city to collect fines, we have to go to court and most cases are filed after more than the 60-day prescription period,” he said.

“That has also been my position when I was still a councilor, when the City has failed to file a case within the period, they can’t collect the fines anymore,” he added.

Labella however, said he still needs to consult with other city officials regarding the request of Atomic, which was led by its president Rudy Laconza.

Another meeting is set on Friday, Oct. 10 with Atomic and other transport groups like Piston-Cebu which staged a transport rally last week against stiff penalties provided in the Joint Administrative Order 2014-01 of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Labella said he will invite City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo, City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas, Citom officials and city councilors to the meeting.

The group also raised concerns about the series of bench warrants issued by the courts against erring drivers. But Labella said the city can’t intervene when it already involves the judiciary.

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