Two PSTMO job hires under probe for alleged pawning of rented car

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) will investigate two job hires accused of pawning a rented car.

The PSTMO issued a statement Thursday announcing the probe on its two members.

“Nakalab-ot sa igtalupangod sang Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) nga may duha ka job hire sang opisina ang ginareklamo nga gin-alegar nag-renta sang salakyan, apang sa baylo nga ibalik, ila ini nga gin-prenda,” the statement read.

The PSTMO stressed that they condemn such acts and that appropriate actions are now being taken in response to the allegations against the two personnel.

An owner of a rent-a-car business claimed in a Facebook post on Wednesday that the two PSTMO personnel rented a vehicle from her on August 28 and continuously extended the rental period, with payment for the extensions made through GCash.

“Almost 13 days sa ila ang salakyan kay ga extend kay nagamit kuno sang ila guest from Manila, amo na nagsugot man kami nga mg extend,” she wrote.

“Nag inform na ako nga indi pwede nga mapa extend na sa 14 ky need ang salakyan… Pero gapakitluoy siya nga asta na lang buwas 12 noon (September 14) kag ibalik na nila kag naghambal siya sa Concepcion ang salakyan,” she added.

The Facebook user said she became suspicious of the alibis of the renters since they tracked the vehicle’s location via a global positioning system and found it in Pavia town.

“Ginsundan namon ang tracker kag nakita namon ang salakyan, kay gali ginprenda [nila],” she continued.

According to the PSTMO head Jeck Conlu, the complainant personally visited their office to report the incident.

Conlu said that two vehicles were involved in this case, with one rented in the Molo district and pawned in Pavia, while the other was rented in the Jaro district and pawned in Bo. Obrero, Lapuz.

‘NO HELMET’ VIOLATION

Meanwhile, the PSTMO said it will also impose administrative sanctions on two of its personnel who were caught not wearing protective helmets while riding a motorcycle on September 9.

“It has come to our attention that a photo showing two personnel of the Public Safety Unit (ICPAU) under PSTMO riding a motorcycle without using prescribed helmets has been circulating on social media,” said PSTMO in a statement.

The PSTMO stressed that they condemn such acts as they go against the department’s commitment to safety and violate the city’s traffic rules.

“We do not in any way tolerate such acts because as enforcers of the law, our personnel should always be held to high standards of integrity and commitment to their sworn duties,” the PSTMO added.

Under the city Regulation Ordinance No. 2008-394, all drivers and passengers of motorcycles, motorized scooters, or motor bicycles, plying along the streets of Iloilo City, must wear standard quality helmets while driving or riding the said vehicles.

Individuals caught violating the ordinance on the first offense will be fined P500; on the second offense is P1000; and on third and subsequent offenses, violators will be fined P2,000 or an imprisonment of about three days, or both.

The PSTMO said they have called a meeting with the personnel involved and have already issued an explanation memo to them.

“During the meeting, the involved have willfully acknowledged their violations of the law and the consequences for such acts. Administrative sanctions will be imposed on them, which will serve as a stern warning to others not to do the same,” the PSTMO emphasized.