BY FELIPE CELINO
ROXAS City — The consultant of the city’s Tricycle Franchising and Regulatory Unit (TFRU) gets directives from the Office of the City Mayor, one of the implementers of the Traffic Code, the city government said.
This, after Councilor Powell del Rosario, in a City Council session on Wednesday, questioned the authority of Victor Arcenas in apprehending traffic violators.
A traffic consultant cannot apprehend or release erring motorists without the knowledge of the city police’s traffic chief, said del Rosario, chair of the Committee on Police and Traffic.
City Legal Office chief Joseph Ador Ramos, however, said Arcenas’ mandates come from the office of Mayor Angel Alan Celino, who has “police power” over motorists.
Ramos cited the Traffic Code of Roxas City, which said that its implementers were the Office of the City Mayor, the traffic aides, and the policemen.
Besides, it is the mayor who appoints the TFRU consultant, the lawyer said.
Arcenas earlier denied reports that he is using a city police car in performing his duties.
He said the vehicle he is using was provided to him by the mayor.
Reports also had it that Arcenas, a former three-termer councilor, pulled out casual employees and supplies from the city police’s traffic section.
Arcenas said he will resign if such allegations will be proven true.
