The city government warned tricycle operators who possessed bogus franchise and advised them to surrender it immediately or face legal action.
Richard Ligad, city information officer said that it is better for those who possessed fake franchise to surrender it, and cooperate with them.
“Kung kayo ay may pekeng franchise ay e-surrender na ninyo. Pini-peke nyo ang mga pirma at illegal po yan. Hindi nyo pwedeng e-rason, na hindi nyo kakilala yung gumagawa o nagbigay nyan. Ikaw na nagdala nyan, o yung kung kanino nakapangalan ang franchise, o depende sa pag-evaluate ng City Legal Office, ay makakasuhan,” Ligad said.
He further said that those drivers who are possessing it will face legal complications, including the owner of the tricycle units, and those person behind the fake franchises.
“Depende sa pag-evaluate ng City Legal Office ay makakasuhan,” Ligad said.
One tricycle driver possessing a fake franchise was apprehended by the personnel of the City Traffic Management Office. The signature in the franchise and in the ID were forged, including the signature of Vice Mayor Nancy Socrates, who is the chairperson of the city’s tricycle franchising board.
The tricycle driver allegedly gave P10,000 to the person who processed his documents, two months ago.
When asked by City Councilor Elgin Damasco, a broadcaster of Bandera and the chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on transportation, he said that he did not know whom he transacted with. Damasco was not convinced with the explanation of the tricycle driver, since he said, nobody will give P10,000 to person he did not know.
Damasco further said that those who are possessing fake franchise will definitely face sanctions. They will also not be given a chance to be acquire tricycle franchise in the future, since the violator will be blacklisted.
“E-surrender nyo sa ating tanggapan. Baka mahuli kayo ng Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTF) o ng City Traffic ay kakasuhan kayo ng city government. At kaylanman ay blacklisted na kayo. Ibig sabihin ay wala na kayong tyansa. Kailanman ay hindi ka na mabibigyan ng franchise,” Councilor Damasco said in a recorded video posted in Radyo Bandera.
He said that practices like this will not be tolerated, since cases will be filed against the violators, which they might be fined and imprisoned, if found guilty.
“Wag nyo nang hintayin pa pa na makasuhan kayo at makulong. Yan po ay illegal,” Damasco warned.