Going the rounds in Facebook is a post by Candy Chan in Astig.Ph about a vehicle by a mayor that was parked in a slot reserved for Persons with Disabilities at Bay 4 of NAIA3. When the security guard called the attention of the man who came out of the driver seat, he insolently replied, “Kausapin mo si Mayor (Talk to the Mayor.)
The incident happened more than two months ago, Dec. 19. We are re-telling the incident because we have not seen any report who was the mayor who violated the law, Republic Act No. 7277 known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, and if he and his driver were made accountable for their misdeed.
As related by ASTIG.PH complete with pictures, a certain HJ was waiting at MIAA Bay 5 when a black Toyota Fortuner with plate number VRB 202 marked Mayor parked right next to the sign that indicated the space was reserved for PWDs.
“After 3-5 minutes, a man from the driver side of the vehicle went out, moved the PWD signage to the side, and then proceeded to light a cigarette stick,” Chan related.
The security guard approached the man, presumed to be the driver and following was the exchange:
Security Guard: Sir, sa inyo po ba itong kotse? Bawal po kasi waiting dito. Doon nalang po sa unahan.
Driver: May sakit sa tuhod si mayor.
SG: Sir, sa VIP parking nalang po sana kayo, Sir. I-coordinate natin.
Driver (puffing a cigarette and frowning): Kausapin mo si mayor.
SG: Sir,pasensya na po ginagawa ko lang po trabaho ko. Bawal po talaga waiting dito.
Driver: Kausapin mo nga si mayor! (Turned his back ignoring the guard as he continued puffing his cigarette).
R.A. 7277, an Act providing for the rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance of disabled person and their integration into the mainstream of society, provides that “ The State shall ensure the attainment of a barrier-free environment that will enable disabled persons to have access in public and private buildings and establishments and such other places mentioned in Batas Pambansa Bilang 344, otherwise known as the Accessibility Law.”
It further states that “The national and local government shall allocate funds for the provision of architectural or structural features for disabled persons in government buildings and facilities.”
The PWD parking slot in airports is in compliance with the implementing rules and regulations of the Accessibility Law which states “Accessible slots in parking areas shall be located as near as possible to ingress/egress spaces of the building or structure.”
Those found to have violated R.A No. 7277 for the first time shall be fined not less than pesos (P 50,000.00 but not exceeding P 100,000.00 or imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than two years, or both at the discretion of the court.
For subsequent violations, the law states that the offender should be fined of not less than P 100,000.00 but P 200,000.00 or imprisonment for less than two years but not more than six years, or both at the discretion of the court.
The law further provides that “Any person who abuses the privileges granted herein shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six months or a fine of not less than P5,000.00 but not more than P 50,000.00, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Have “Mayor” and his driver been made accountable for their illegal act?
The SG should have called the duty Police Officer to effect the enforcement and usually it necessitate the immediate Towing of the vehicle to the pound..at the “mayor’s” expense. But usually a traffic violation is only punishable by Monetary fine and if not paid refusal of renewal of licenses, but not imprisonment…but the way I see it, the fine is too high for the First offender.
But Ellen, don’t you think it is not time to have a random Plate for everyone? And anyone who wanted a “vanity” plate or customized plate must pay extra for the privilege…(like Yellow or Pnoy or RoRo,) it will cost us $310 for 2 to 8 characters letters and or numbers without a graphic and $336 for 2 to 6 characters with a graphic..and there are 68 graphics to choose from..) and can not add a word on the plate..
Ellen, under the FOI, it was found out that the tickets issued by our city parking enforcement officers for illegal parking or use of DISABLED parking space is steady at average 12000 a year, regardless of fines and the city raised $4.5 millions for violating the disabled parking space at $450 a click..plus 25 % surcharge for the victims of crimes.
what is the use of having a plate number if one cannot find the owners name.
#4 We are working on it.
Again, the matulis journalist concludes the vehicle is “(owned) by a mayor” because….tadaaaah, the vanity plate says so. May SOV ba? “We are working on it”, but in the meantime, we conclude the owner is indeed a mayor. Kind of reminds me of the drunk Ateneo athlete who took out his “councilor” plate to bully a motorist. Naalala ko din na sa naunang entry, Mar and Leni’s co-passenger aboard the chopper was very quickly identified as one of Leni’s daughters. All in the name of journalism being “history on the run” — let the truth sort itself out later on, di naman importante ang detalyeng ganun when you’re a good journalist eh.
mayabang din ang drayber ni meyor. kahit pa tigasin si meyor, dapat pa rin pangalagaan ng tauhan niya ang reputasyon ng amo. kung ako ang sekyu, ipakain ko ang sigarilyo sa kanya para matauhan.
hindi ang trabaho bilang sekyu ang minamaliit ng kupal na drayber kundi yun mismong pagkatao ng tinutupad ang trabaho.
You must have been reading a different blog. I don’t remember the lady between Roxas and Robredo in the chopper being referred to as Leni’s daughter.
Then you must have read the edited version of her Bryan Poe blog entry; she did identify the person in the middle of the pic as Leni’s daughter in the caption on the day the entry was uploaded. Only the following day did she finally get the identity right — the SSS Director Antonino, Mar’s ex chief of staff (my guess is she got it through Bobi Tiglao who at least correctly identified Antonino in his own column before going the full nine yards) — but conveniently omitted to mention the snafu, let alone offer any excuse. Good journalists don’t make mistakes, you see…
#5 and 8, Kwawa ka naman. If you hate ellen so much, why are you even in this blog?
Magkano ba ang binabayad sa ganyang trabaho, Pektus. Ang magmonitor sa social media ng mga not-so-friendly to your candidate columnists.
Stressful ang ganyang trabaho ha.
Aw, don’t worry about me Al. I’ve as much love for the dilawans as Tiglao and Boo Chanco, and do like them enough because they at least build their cases well. But with so-called veteran journalists getting away with lazy-ass reporting, not so much.
The above entry is a case in point, which by the way has nothing to do with elections. Mahirap bang intindihin na ang mas malaking issue sa taas is the impunity caused by those power “vanity” plates, regardless whether the motorist is an actual occupant of the office his plate claims?
MAYOR, FISCAL, NBI, CIDG and PMA/PNPA CLASS___ plates wouldn’t be so ubiquituous in our roads if they weren’t so effective in intimidating enforcers. Igalaw-galaw mo din kasi utak mo para di yan masyado kumikitid…
#6
mayabang si drayber malamang salamin siya ng karakter ni meyor. Mukhang may arthritis ang boss nya kaya nag park sa PWD reserved parking.
Ito ay out topic. Ayon sa veteran journalist sa column niya ma disqualify yata si Poe. Mga uma idol kay Poe na sina MPrivera, ana duran, pektus, vic, tounge twisted at iba pa ano opinyon niyo. ito ang link
http://www.polbits.com/