IS a City Hall multi-cab with a tarp poster of a councilor’s face and the word “Karaoke” being used for an official or a personal purpose?
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 has asked the Office of the Ombudsman – Visayas to find out.
LTO Regional Director Arnel Tancinco attached photos with his letter dated Sept. 15.
They showed a multicab with plate number SKV-333 with a tarpaulin on its side bearing the name and photo of City Councilor Gerardo Carillo and the word “Karaoke.”
“May we refer to your good office for investigation the abuse of authority, graft and corruption and the conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service of some of the officials and/or employees of the Cebu City Government in illegally using the motor vehicle with plate number SKV-333, not for official purposes but for personal gain and interest,” Tancinco said.
Tancinco said the use of government vehicles for personal interest is a clear violation of the Anti Red Tap Law, Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Sought for comment, Councilor Carillo said the vehicles are delegated to different barangays.
It just so happened, he said, that some barangays request the use of his personal sound system for barangay activities like discos, fiestas and zumba sessions.
In return, Carillo said, he agreed with barangay officials to place his tarpaulin at the side of the vehicle for proper recognition and acknowledgement.
“It’s the barangays who borrow my karaoke equipment and sound system. Of course, when it gets there, they would put my tarp also in due recognition that they borrowed from me. That is an activity of the barangay. That is still official business,” Carillo said.
He said LTO-7 and the Ombudsman should prove that this set-up violates the Red Tap law.
While he said he’s ready to answer the complaint, Carillo said they should also ask the barangays that borrow his equipment.
Carillo said he sometimes donates cash to the barangays as assistance for their activities aside from lending his equipment. During zumba sessions, he said he would sometimes send a zumba instructor to the barangays.
Carillo plans to run for congressman in the city’s south district under Team Rama.
“This is a desperate move. It’s politicking. I will also file a complaint against LTO because it’s clear that they allowed themselves to be used by a person who’s politicking,” Carillo added.