BACOLOD City – The city government maintained it will continue carrying out City Ordinance (CO) No. 818, establishing tow-away zones on various streets here, despite concerns raised by a group of lawyers questioning the legality of its implementation.
City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. stressed that it is up to the court whether to issue an injunction order and halt the execution of an ordinance by declaring it null and void.
This was after the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Negros Occidental Chapter aired concerns about the clamping operations of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office that seemingly put lawyers in a bad light.
The group also noted the inadequate signage on the supposed “No Parking” zones, particularly along Gatuslao Street.
In line with this, Ting justified that CO No. 818 has been in implementation since 2017 and, as he could recall, there were previously markings on the said street, noting that the painted area has faded through the years.
Ting then explained that utilizing the street as a parking area for several lawyers who have court hearings was only previously allowed for their safety.
“Ako upod man sa ila, pero sundon ta gid ang ordinansa,” Ting claimed, admitting that he is also a member of the IBP.
As of writing, the city has yet to receive any formal complaint from the group, the city’s legal officer added./PN