From Freeman (01 October 2007)

Monday, October 1, 2007

Cebu City officials have started an investigation into a report that some city employees of the City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team, or CESET, have used their service vehicle for personal purpose in going to Liloan last Saturday.

The report came from a private person, a certain Carlnick, who posted the matter on the “Isumbong ni Mayor” segment of the city’s official website www.cebucity.gov.ph., which urges people to report any abuse or illegal act of city employees.

Carlnick, a regular user of the city’s website, said that at 9:17am Saturday he saw the CESET vehicle (with plate number SHT-540) at Tayud market in Liloan, a northern town 17 kilometers from Cebu City.

The CESET service vehicle “has the Cebu City seal on its side. Wondering if this is officially used? Does Liloan included by the CESET enforcement? If not so what’s this vehicle doing there with strangers and a child on board?” Carlnick said on the website.

Councilor Nestor Archival, tasked to supervise the operation of CESET as chairman of the council’s committee on environment, assured The Freeman that he will investigate the report and find out why the CESET’s vehicle reached Liloan over the weekend.

The city created CESET to intensify the campaign against violators of the city’s anti-littering ordinance and the provisions under Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Archival was surprised when The Freeman informed him that the CESET vehicle was used by unidentified people even if there was no work for city employees that Saturday.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, a few months ago, created Task Force Oplan Red Plate to apprehend government officials and employees caught using government vehicles for private use.

She had ordered the Visayas Ombudsman also to form a similar team that would enforce the directive but then this has not been complied with so far.

The Ombudsman earlier suspended for six months without pay the then Cebu Port Authority general manager Mariano Martinez for using a CPA vehicle in taking to and fetching from school his daughter.

A Commission on Audit’s manual for property custodianship states that “the use of government transportation by spouses, children, relatives, friends, etc. of the officials entitled thereto is included in the prohibition even if they are in the company of said officials.”

It also provides that “in every case, the trip ticket authorizing the use of the vehicles shall be displayed on the windshields or in another conspicuous place on the vehicle.

The use of government vehicles on Sundays, legal holidays or outside regular office hours or outside the route of the officials or employees authorized to use them, shall unless properly authorized, be prima facie evidence of the violation.

COA officials supported the Ombudsman’s Task Force Oplan Red Plate so that government workers would be discouraged from using government vehicles for their private purpose.

In Cebu City, there were complaints against a barangay captain who used the barangay vehicle to transport his son to and from school.

The task force has been intended to curb the practice of government officials and workers of using government vehicles, both with red plate and security plates.

One who is caught using public vehicles illegally would be indicted at the Ombudsman for malversation of public funds or property, and for violation of the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees.

A COA official in Central Visayas has suggested for stiffer sanction against abusive government officials and employees, many of who were apparently not afraid of violating the laws that imposes lesser penalties anyway, such as disallowance of fuel for the vehicles. — Rene U. Borromeo/RAE

--
Maau ning gi-aksyonan na kay daghan na kaau atong makit-an nga mga government cars diri gigamit personal sa mga government employees. Bug-at kaau hunahunaon nga mahal na kaau gasolina unya kita pa jd nagbayad sa gasolina aning mga lakwatsa aning mga abusadong govt. employees...-