Man who shot clamp faces P45K fine, charges
Police will file criminal charges today against the man who shot a wheel clamp of the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO).
Supt. Conrado Manatad, chief of the Traffic Patrol Group, said they file charges against Melbert Destriza, 27, for illegal discharge of firearm and malicious mischief. Destriza remains at large.
“The complainants are the TPG and CCTO,” Manatad said.
In a separate interview, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña defended the P45,000 penalty that City Hall will charge Destriza. He also said that City Government will file a criminal case against Destriza and impound his car “until he’s convicted.”
According to the initial investigation by Mabolo police, Destriza “intentionally” shot the clamp worth P45,000 and fled.
Manatad said that Destriza’s lawyer tried to claim the Honda City from the CCTO but it was not released, because it will be pre- sented as part of the evidence.
Destriza allegedly shot the wheel clamp and damaged it after his car was clamped on the sidewalk of Ponce 1, Gen. Maxilom Ext. for illegal parking.
The incident has provoked discussions online about road rage, as well raised questions about the alleged overpricing of some 100 wheel clamps bought during the previous Cebu City Hall administration.
In a Facebook post dated Feb. 17, Osmeña slammed his critics who allegedly called the penalty an “evidence of the administration’s corruption.”
“The Team Rama trolls are in full force today (Feb. 17) saying that the idiot who shot the clamp yesterday being charged P45,000 is evidence of my administration’s corruption. Would they like to clarify first WHO bought these overpriced clamps?” reads a portion of Osmeña’s post.
The mayor attached two photos showing the transactions made by former mayor Michael Rama and his administration for the purchase of the clamps.
The first photo showed a purchase order (PO) dated March 3, 2016 signed by then mayor Rama. The PO read that the City ordered 100 units of Denver boots or wheel clamps amounting to some P4,495,000. Each unit cost around P44,950.
The supplier that won the bidding was AYL Trading, which is based in Surigao del Norte.
The second photo showed a copy of the PO signed by Mayor Osmeña last July 7, 2017. The supplier that won the bidding was United Automart, which holds office along Leon Kilat St., Cebu City. The PO City ordered 100 units of wheel tire clamps, but for only P845,700.
“Mr. Rama, shortly before the 2016 elections, ordered the purchase of 100 clamps (for P4,495,000). After taking his place, I ordered the same number of clamps (for P845,700). Per unit, his clamps cost more than FIVE TIMES the amount mine did. Did anyone from his party say anything?” he said.
In separate interviews, Councilors Joel Garganera, Raymond Garcia, and Joy Pesquera gave their thoughts on the issue.
“To my knowledge it is the mayor who has trolls. It’s just the mayor who is making this up just to be talked about,” Garganera told SunStar Cebu in a text.
Garcia, on the other hand, said the items purchased are different. “Rama’s purchase is for a Denver boot clamp while that of Osmeña is for an ordinary wheel clamp. Perhaps they have the same purpose, but the functionality and durability are different, hence the price difference,” he said.
“So, how can there be corruption when the specification was for a more functional and durable Denver boot clamp compared to an ordinary wheel clamp? The corruption will occur when you charge P40,000 for a damaged clamp that only costs P7,860,” Garcia added.
Pesquera believes that the mayor may have mistaken a post made online by an aggrieved motorist as Barug Team Rama’s doing.