Crackdown on personal use of public vehicles kicks off
Santiago
Government workers who are fond of using their office's vehicles for personal purposes, be warned.
The Office of the Ombudsman is serious in putting a stop to this illegal practice. In fact, it has already filed administrative cases against five government employees found using government vehicles for their personal benefits.
With this, the People's Graftwatch of Iloilo (Ombudsman's Corruption Prevention Unit) yesterday launched the Operation Red Plate or the campaign against the personal use of government vehicles.
Virginia Palanca-Santiago, OIC-Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas, served as guest in the launching which was attended by graftwatch volunteers and students from various schools in the city.
Msgr. Meliton Oso, president of People's Graftwatch of Iloilo (PGI), said they have invited students of various secondary schools in the city to ask their help in reporting "red plate" violations.
Oso said everybody should do their part in minimizing, if not eradicating, graft and corruption in the country.
Santiago said anybody could report red plate vehicles being used in personal purposes and the Office of the Ombudsman will take charge in filing appropriate administrative charges against violators.
She said all that the public should do is to take note of the vehicle's plate number and the agency the vehicle belongs, if indicated in the vehicle's body, and the date and time it was spotted.
Santiago assured that any report to them would be treated confidentially.
"Let us put a stop to this unscrupulous practice. By doing so we are taking steps to minimize and later eradicate corruption in our society," Palanca said.
It can be noted that some government vehicles are being used in going to beaches, drinking joints and party places and as well as in ferrying children or family members of government employees.
Palanca said such practice is grossly illegal as it is the government which spends on the repair and maintenance of the vehicle and on its gasoline.
Palanca said they have already coordinated with the different government agencies regarding the campaign to make it more effective.