“Ouster or transfer!”

That was the demand reiterated by the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center calling for the ouster or transfer of Bacolod Traffic Authority Office head Reynaldo Ebreo in their protest held at the Bacolod City Government Center yesterday.

UNDOC secretary general Diego Malacad said yesterday that the traffic enforcers terminated by Ebreo and members of the Amelia Vendors Association had joined their protest calling for his ouster.

Malacad said Ebreo claimed that the traffic enforcers were allegedly involved in extortion activities. Only 22 out of the 38 traffic enforcers who have signed the petition seeking the ouster of Ebreo were terminated since the rest are regular employees.

A traffic enforcer, who did not want to be identified, claimed that those who were terminated had refused to give a portion of their salary to the BTAO head.

Ebreo said the traffic enforcers, who, he claimed, were identified to have been involved in extortion activities, were issued notices of termination effective September 1 that was signed by the mayor.

They do not tolerate this kind of practices, he said.

Malacad said Ebreo should not remain in BTAO because he has lost his credibility for violating certain ordinances. Even Elizabeth Katalbas, president of the Federation of Bacolod Drivers Association, had begged the mayor to let go of him, he said.

One proof of the alleged corruption in BTAO is the printing of body sticker numbers that have the mayor’s name, which is illegal since it did not go through a bidding and this is now being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation, Malacad said.

He also denied having demanded for the closure of the Bacolod North Terminal.

Mayor Monico Puentevella had said that whatever his people have done, he will take responsibility for them. He also said the protest will not solve any problem.

He said he will stand by his people if they are performing well.

Meanwhile, Lorney Lyzander Dilag, Puentevella’s spokesperson, said it is too premature to judge that the mayor is unresponsive without concrete basis.

Primarily, he said, the mayor believes in consensus leadership that is why he wants to consult with all transport groups, and wants to have their collective wisdom which will be the basis of his decision.

On their demand for the ouster of Ebreo, Dilag said the mayor believes that he is performing well. They also believe that the traffic situation has improved under his leadership, he said.

Malacad said he will meet with his group to discuss whether they will attend the meeting called by Puentevella on Saturday.

He said he is willing to resign from UNDOC if he can no longer serve the interest of the drivers and if this government will not listen to them. But this does not mean that the fight is over because they will continue to seek justice, he added.

The UNDOC also staged a rally in front of the LTO joining the nationally-coordinated protest of the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide against oil price hikes and the Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01 issued by the Department of Transportation and Communication, which imposes an increase in fines and penalties for violations of road policies.*CGS

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