Mayor Rama warns: ‘Don’t make the mistake of dropping names’
The radio broadcaster who tried to get out of a traffic violation by threatening a Cebu city traffic enforcer was suspended from his job as liaison of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC).
His motorcycle is also the subject of investigation by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 which said the license plate which carries the label “MEDIA” looked bogus because the numbers were “non-existent”.
The ABC, in a special board meeting, decided on indefinite suspension without pay for Roger Cimafranca, a job-order employee.
His conduct in berating and insulting a Citom enforcer was widely criticized after a video of his ranting was posted on Facebook this week and went viral.
“We don’t tolerate those kinds of actuations. The video speaks for itself,” said ABC president and Tisa barangay captain Phillip Zafra.
The ABC formed an ad hoc committee to investigate the May 20 incident and come up with recommendations within 10 days.
The two backriders who who wore no helmets and overloaded the motorbike were also identified as job order or casual workers of the ABC. They, too, will be investigated.
Cimafranca hosts the weekly radio program “Kabaraangayan” on dradio dyLA, with airtime paid by former ABc president Michael Ralota, councilman of barangay T. Padilla.
Cimfaranca yesterday apologized on air to the Citom enforcer and to Mayor Michael Rama for name-dropping the official in his heated words. (See separate story)
Ralota, however, said “there’s nothing wrong if he continues with the program. It’s his personal issue. That doesn’t include the program.”
A Cebu city resident has started an online petition on change.org to press broadcast regulators to cancel the accreditation of Cimafranca in the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).
As of last night, there were 105 supporters who signed up.
At City Hall, Mayor Michael Rama didn’t sound upset by the incident, and held back from castigating the broadcaster in public.
“Roger texted me. I know him, we know each other. He’s been with us a long time,” he said.
But the mayor said “Don’t make the mistake of dropping names” and warned that “nobody is above the law”.
“Not only to Roger, but to all my friends and (all) acquaintances. Don’t make the mistake of dropping names. And the best thing to do (in) a situation like that (is to say) the very tender and sacred, but still valuable, words which is ‘I’m sorry,’” he said.
LTO 7 Regional Director Arnel Tancinco said the rear license plate of the motorbike, as seen in the video, showed numbers which were “non-existent” in LTO records.
He ordered LTO 7 operations chief Joel Maloloy-on to summon Cimafranca and ask him to bring the motorcycle and his records.
Tancinco said the prefix 7TC means the license plate was issued in Talisay City LTO extension office, but the chief there said the plate number could not be found in their recors.
Cimafranca was caught on hidden camera berating and threatening Ocampo, who refused to grant his plea not to issue a traffic ticket for two violations – overloading and non-use of crash helmets by his passengers.
In the video, Cimafranca launched into a tirade and threatened to ask the mayor to transfer or fire the Citom enforcer.
He boasted of working in the media and being a liaison officer of the ABC.
The mayor yesterday said Cimafranca is not a an employee of the Cebu City government employee, but a job-order worker of the ABC.
ABC vice president and Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera will head the probe committee with Apas barangay captain Ramil Ayuman and Binaliw barangay captain Wilson Bacor as members. Cimafranca’s back riders, Alvin Enanoria and RJ Philip Cadorna, are also job-order personnel of ABC.
Cimafranca was fined P2,000 for carrying back riders without helmets and P500 for overloading. Only one back rider is allowed under the law.