City confiscates more illegal weights

The city government's Special Services Unit (SSU) has intensified its crackdown against owners of illegal and defective weighing devices who are cheating unsuspecting market-goers in the different market terminals here.

The latest campaign has so far led to the apprehension of 36 owners of these illegal weights, according to a report submitted by SSU chief Errol Cudilla to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.

The SSU operations, conducted last September 6 th , focused at the Iloilo Terminal Market.

Those apprehended using illegal weighing devices were Virgie Libertad, Merle Calbes, Ricky Guion, Gertrudes Amon, Bernie Aton, Ramil Garganua, Ricky Parcatano, Emelita Marañon, Janet Bolonon, Ely Duyo, Roberto Gonzales, JR Planto, Lito Figuroa, Evelyn Dequilla, Lanie Pinuela, Rodolfo Andrade, Cherry Tentatina, Eva Rico, Nick Garganera, Bonifacio Gascon, Eduardo Parcon, Toboy Francisco, Vicente Lo, David Santiago, Beverly Rojas, Lani Trimucha, Allena Lino, Ma. Fe Magallanes, Jose Biclar, Emmanuel Antoniano, Andres Biclar, Illumida Gersulon, Jannette Salcedo, Ismaelita Baniel, Robert Juanico, and Teresita Noquiro.

Cudilla said the confiscated weights were either shortchanging customers by as much as 100 grams per kilogram or lacked the official seal required for every weighing scale used within the city. A weighing scale without a seal can be easily tampered with by an unscrupulous vendor.

Treñas has earlier ordered Cudilla to step up the campaign against illegal weights to show that the city government will not condone acts inimical to consumers.

Under Ordinance no. 399, vendors caught with illegal or defective weights are fined anywhere from P200 to P1,000 and made to pay fees relevant to calibration and official sealing of their confiscated weighing devices.

Time and again, Treñas reminded consumers to be constantly cautious of vendors to ensure that they are getting their money's worth of the goods they purchase.

He likewise chided cheating vendors, saying that they should instead be more sympathetic with consumers most of whom are regular wage earners who have to stretch their limited budgets during this time of rising prices of basic commodities.

The confiscated units are at the custody of the SSU at the city hall. (Adora Bandorio/PIO)