BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan wants the two feuding officials of the Cordillera office of the Department of Transportation (DOTr-CAR) to iron out their current rift primarily for the greater interest of the transport sector in the region.
The local chief executive admitted that the on-going rift between DOTr-CAR regional director lawyer Jose Eduardo Natividad and his deputy Mahammad Naser Abbas is causing a serious setback in the implementation of the priority programs, projects and activities of the agency, especially in the fight against colorum vehicles that continue to affect the operation of legitimate franchise holders plying various routes regionwide.
“We want both director Natividad and Abbas to get their acts together because what is being compromised in their current rift is the greater interest of the public. We understand that the two DOTr-CAR officials are already being investigated by their central office so we will simply await the resolution of higher authorities on the charges against them if there is no way for them to shape up,” Domogan stressed.
Natividad informed Mayor Domogan that the rift did not come from his camp but it was Abbas who started the problem by hurling numerous baseless allegations against him despite his contention that they were assigned in the region to perform the mandate of their office to advance the interest of the transport sector and the motorists alike.
Domogan claimed that he was informed by Transportation Undersecretary Tim Orbos that the issues concerning the rift of the two DOTr-CAR officials already reached their central office and awaiting the release of the appropriate resolution concerning the matter so that the duties and functions of the regional office will not be jeopardized.
According to him, the city welcomes individuals and groups willing to help the local government implement city ordinances but the problem only lies if these individuals and groups pretending to help the city enforce laws, rules and regulations will use their authority to smoke-screen their illegal extortion activities.
He underscored that he never issued any authority for certain individuals and groups to use his name to justify their questionable law enforcement operations that is why victims of extortion activities of some erring individuals and groups should execute the appropriate affidavit to support the filing of the complaints against such abusive individuals.
Earlier, numerous members of the city’s transport sector criticized the law enforcement activities of Abbas because he had allegedly been namedropping Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Mayor Domogan in certain transactions related to alleged violations despite their possession of proper franchises.
Some transport sector members also questioned the refusal of the officials and personnel of the Army Reserve Command based in the Baguio Athletic Bowl to release a duly adjudicated apprehension of the agency when the same passed through the rigid process and invoking the fact that it is only Secretary Tugade and Abbas that could order the release of the apprehended motor vehicles.
By Dexter A. See
