A vehicle assigned to a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Oriental that was parked in Purok Kalubihan, Barangay Daro, Dumaguete City was towed by the provincial government yesterday afternoon.

 

This was after repeated demands by Gov. Roel Degamo to surrender the vehicle had been seemingly ignored by SP member Mellimoore Saycon of the second district.

The towing of the white Mitsubishi Strada, with original plate number SJZ 301, engine No. 4D56UCCKK4068, and Chassis No. MMBJNKB40BDO27781, registered in the name of the Province of Negros Oriental, was supervised by Provincial Administrator Richard Inojo. The vehicle was taken back to the motorpool.

Inojo said the registration of the vehicle had expired May 2011, and the province had repeatedly requested Saycon to surrender it for renewal.

Degamo in a letter to Wilfredo Lazaro, in-charge of the vehicles of the Capitol, dated Aug 7, had ordered the recovery of the vehicle.

Inojo said Saycon’s right to the vehicle had been withdrawn a long time ago for his refusal to cooperate for driving a vehicle with expired registration and without a plate number, which is a violation.

Saycon reportedly voluntarily agreed to deliver the vehicle to the Land Transportation Office, when he was flagged down weeks ago by the Highway Patrol Group, but instead, spirited it away.

During its recovery the vehicle had a blue-colored metal plate number in the front marked CR5 927.

A search conducted by the city police showed that the original plate with number SJZ 301 was placed under the driver’s seat. Another plate number marked MAFIA was also recovered.*JG