Ombudsman ‘special ops’ net guv’s vehicles, 11 others for unofficial use

By Florence F. Hibionada

It may have been a ‘Thank-God-It’s -Friday (TGIF)’ for private citizens at the end of last week’s workweek. Yet for all those under government employ on board 13 government-issued vehicles spotted and apprehended by the Ombudsman, it was certainly one rotten late Friday evening.

More so for those on board the two Capitol-issued vehicles of Governor Niel Tupas.

Barely had the media and public uproar been over on the issue of illegal siren use, it is back in the limelight anew for the governor’s government-issued Nissan Patrol vehicles.

And from the now controversial one Nissan Patrol with “red plate” SGF 898, it became two “GOVERNOR” vehicles. This, following late Friday evening’s special operations of the Ombudsman task force out on a mission to stop improper use of said government vehicles.

The News Today (TNT) in a report gathered that a total of 13 government vehicles were spotted and/or apprehended.

The Ombudsman team was aided by task force members comprised by an official from the Commission on Audit (COA), the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Media presence was also allowed with an earlier briefing that laid down the parameters of the press coverage.

Dubbed “Task Force Operation Plan Red Plate,” it was to be the second “special ops” of the anti-graft body in Iloilo City. The team had surprise checkpoints in strategic entry and exit points to and from the city. Such as another mobile team went around to check on the city’s nightspots for parked government-cars.

The law is crystal clear, the Ombudsman here stressed, on the prohibition of unofficial use of “red plate” or government-issued vehicles. Any use beyond office hours particularly in nightspots and elsewhere must be accompanied by duly accomplished trip tickets.

Some four hours into the operation, TNT got confirmation of a “chase” with subjects – two black vehicles with “GOVERNOR” plates of Governor Tupas. No specifics were however revealed on the exact location of the initial sighting or up to where the chase ended. No details released too on the identities of those on board.

By Saturday morning though, TNT got word that the “GOVERNOR” vehicles were indeed recorded by the Ombudsman Task Force as “apprehended.” Another report also came in on one vehicle spotted and believed to have been issued for the city mayor’s official use. However belated developments stated that only the two “GOVERNOR” vehicles were in said “apprehended” report.

“They never thought that we will pursue them. Everything would be okay if only they cooperated with us by stopping at our checkpoint but they chose to be pursued,” TNT was told.

The Ombudsman-led team had “spotters” in place in various areas of the city and alerted the task force of an incoming red-plate vehicle.

With uniformed police officers in tow, team members then flagged down the subject vehicle and proceeded to seek authority to be out in such late Friday evening.

A check was then made on trip tickets present, proper marking of “For Official Use Only” on the vehicle, the driver’s license, vehicle documents and license plates.

The Task Force Red Plate will pursue charges on the violators – those on board the vehicle established to have been on unofficial use and to the official or head of office that the vehicle was issued.

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Operation red plate should go on and on so that violators will be apprehended and gasoline consumption can be minimized, and utilize only for official use.