Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Police chief denies toll fee collection in Pulupandan port
POLICE Provincial Director Rosendo Franco denied reports that Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña has already been imposing the collection of a P100 toll fee in the town's port.
Governor Isidro Zayco tasked Franco to investigate the complaint of former mayor Luis Mondia against the alleged harassment made by Peña on motorists coming in the port by collecting P100 per truck.
"Based on our investigation, Mayor Peña is just informing motorists that on the day that a municipal ordinance on the toll fee collection in the port would be approved by the Municipal Council, they would effect the collection of P100 per truck that will enter the port," Franco told Sun.Star Bacolod.
He said Mondia's complaint started when one of his female relatives, who was then on board a private vehicle, was reportedly blocked by Peña's men and was informed about the soon-to-be implemented ordinance.
But as to the alleged imposition of toll fee collection in the absence of an ordinance, Franco said: "It's not happening yet and (there's) no truth also to Mondia's complaint." (Erwin Ambo Delilan)
