Baguio mayor sets measures to end influence-peddling

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY — Pursuant to President Aquino’s orders to curb proliferation of corruption in the bureaucracy, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan here ordered city officials and employees to refrain from “influence-peddling” in transacting with concerned government offices in order to advance their personal and political interests.

Domogan issued the order after learning over 35 percent of the confiscated driver’s licenses and vehicle plate numbers of those vehicles and drivers caught by law enforcers for violating various traffic rules and regulations are being pulled out from the police stations upon the intervention of politicians and some enterprising government employees.

To ensure no local official or employee will unduly intervene with duties and responsibilities of offices, the local chief executive barred civil servants from interfering in processing of business permits, demolition orders, releasing of confiscated licenses and plate numbers among others so those who deserve to be punished will be meted penalties.

Chief Supt. Villamor Bumanglag, director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, claimed law enforcers are now being demoralized because after performing their assigned tasks of apprehending traffic violators ranging from illegal parking, reckless driving among others, they discover that the confiscated driver’s licenses and license plates are pulled out without paying the corresponding fines because of the intercession of influential individuals.