By LITO RULONA
Correspondent
TASK Force Hapsay Dalan chairman Jose Edgardo Uy yesterday defended the Roads and Traffic Administration’s road clearing operations around Cogon market last week, saying all it did was to enforce laws.
Uy said this even as he said he was willing to face the city council and answer questions about the RTA operations that were criticized by councilors Leon Gan and Zaldy Ocon.
Over local radio, Uy said, “Matingala ko ani pero sige lang tubagon ko kini. Muyra ba kini og sekretarya ba nga manawag pa sa iyang amo nga tubagon niya ang telepono.”
He gave another analogy: “Dili lagi kita security guard nga mananghid pa sa ilang boss nga abrihan ta kini, pasudlon ta kini.”
Uy said the RTA operation was lawful and consistent with city hall’s mandate to maintain order.
On Wednesday, Councilor Ocon said he was the acting mayor when the RTA launched the crackdown on sidewalk vendors around Cogon market but he was not informed about the operation. He said an ordinance provides that the mayor’s office should be informed first.
“Basic man kaayo nga ang dalan dili pabaligyaan. Naay balaod usab sa Civil Code,” said Uy, adding that the RTA does not really need to ask permission to enforce the law.
Uy said he understands that it was the councilors’ job to seek clarification and they were just doing their work but “dili kita kasabot.”
“Anyway trabaho man kana nila ato sila nga tubagon,” he said.
Uy said the RTA crackdown has plenty of legal bases, pointing out that what the group did was to rid the area of illegal vendors.
He said City Ordinance 9841 disallows the use of sidewalks and roads by vendors.
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