Mabolo village chief denies politics in clamping of vehicles

Local

The clamping of government-owned and private vehicles in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City had nothing to do with politics.

Mabolo barangay captain, Atty. Daniel Francis Arguedo, said this as he debunked the accusation of the barangay’s former village chief who alleged that the clamping of several vehicles, including garbage trucks, parked on C. Mina Street on Tuesday dawn, August 13, was politically motivated

"Miingon sila nga pamulitika, kay dili nako mga supporters, layo ra gyud na sa tinuod, humana na ang eleksyon (They say that it is politicking, because they are not my supporters, that is far from the truth, the elections are over),” Arguedo said in a press conference on Thursday, August 15.

The clamping became controversial after ex-Mabolo barangay captain Niña Mabatid posted a video on her social media where she accused Arguedo of politicking.

Mabatid said Arguedo had an ax to grind against the residents within C. Mina Street for not voting him during the 2023 Barangay and SK elections.

In denying Mabatid’s accusation, Arguedo said they planned to have the street cleared so that their trucks can easily pass through and be in close proximity to the Mahiga Creek, which is known to overflow during rainy seasons.

The clearing operation is in line with the flood control mission project of the barangay, Arguedo said.

Part of the project is to remove the pile of garbage in the creek that is blocking the water flow.

In a phone interview, Cebu City Transportation Office chief Raquel Arce said she and her personnel gave both the barangay and the owners of the private vehicles due notice to vacate the area before the overnight clamping operation.

“It’s the barangay themselves that called for the clamping operation, then our personnel went to the area, we saw that the Barangay’s claim was positive. However, we didn’t clamp the vehicles immediately, so we informed the owners, also the Barangay, that their vehicles will be included, we didn’t clamp immediately.” said Arce.

Arguedo explained that the reason why the trucks were parked on C.Mina street was because the barangay lacks substantial parking space for its trucks needed for the flood control project.

Arguedo said partly to blame for the lack of space was the alleged illegal properties and houses that are presumably owned by three families: Mabatid, Degamo, and Mondrano.

“We don’t have any other area to place our equipment for our flood control mission; that area behind the (sports) complex, or the satellite market. Now unfortunately, in that area, there are residences of the three families that are occupying the government lot. In the end, if you look at their structure, they (their properties) are extending to the other side, which is already on top of the rip-rap,” Arguedo said.

Arguedo plans to elevate the issue to the city council and the Department of Interior or Local Government to help in overviewing the properties or structures that are getting in the way of the barangay’s flood control operation.(MyTVCebu)