“Hilabihang labaras ulo oi”

EVERY time there are “guests” from the regional office of the LTO, one can right away predict with 100% certainty on what will happen – lines and lines of motorcycle operators along the road, waiting for the LTO personnel to leave and set up checkpoints somewhere.

The waiting time of the parked, and grumbling, motorists depends on the discretion of the LTO men. If they stay for half-day, then that is the same time the motorists will have to wait.

Those who operate colorum vehicles like vans and SUVs that cater to tourists are in the same league. They also stop operations and just wait for the LTO to disappear.

Right away, the social media is replete with pictures, and veiled or open warnings, against traversing that part of the road.

Beware, the LTO sharks are posted somewhere, says the FB post.

* * *

The reason for this is obvious.

Many motorcycle operators, including tourist vans and SUVs, are operating their vehicles without licenses, without registration and without complying with the basic requirements of the Motor Vehicle Law, and without franchises from the LTFRB for the vans and SUVs.

They are aware that if they pass through the LTO checkpoint, they would surely be apprehended, and be made to pay for Fines and penalties. Their vehicles may even be impounded.

What does the law say about this – the operation of all public utility vehicles which are so-called colorum shall be banned from plying in all routes in the country. Such vehicles, if caught traversing highways and streets with passengers, shall be confiscated and impounded.

And with the new law that requires a court order for the release of impounded colorum vehicles the situation becomes even more problematic for non-compliant drivers and operators.

They cannot allow these things to happen. So they would rather be late, or absent from work than face the LTO scrutiny.

And if they have student passengers, they would just let their passengers disembark and commute on any available transpo.

This is the sad thing that is facing the community – many vehicles, either the 2-wheels, the 4-wheels or the 6-wheelers are being operated without licenses, registrations and franchises. It’s now a cat-and-mouse game for them with the LTO.

* * *

To let the LTO do the solo job of catching these colorum operation is not only a gargantuan but also a mission impossible task.

Good thing that there is now a MOA being signed between the DILG and the LTO on the joint apprehension of colorum vehicles.

In other words, the DILG is now assisting the LTO in running after the behinds of colorum operators.

But there is one question – are the LGUs in the province doing their part?

And another question – mitabang ba ang mga Mayor sa atong probinsiya nga madakpan ang mga colorum operators?

Kon negative ang tubag, unsay maayong himoon?

Modawat ang DILG sa mga report or reklamo about this or about the failure of Mayors or LGUs to cooperate in the implementation of the anti-colorum law.

Given the current trend of the Ombudsman to randomly place government officials under preventive suspension, then I’m pretty sure it would not be difficult to solicit the support of the mayors towards apprehending the colorum operators.

I-reklamo lang usa sa Mayor aron makamatngon sab sila before i-report sa DILG kon wa gihapon action human pahibaw-a.

* * *

Meanwhile, there is now a mass exodus of politicians from PDP-Laban to other political parties, mostly belonging to the administration,

The preferred one of course is the Lakas-NUCD, the party where Speaker Martin Romualdez reigns supreme.

Sa panahon ni PRRD, humot kaayo ang PDP-Laban og maoy hinungdan nga magpanon gyod ang mga politiko nga moapil sa maong grupo.

Sa panahon pa ni kanhi Senate President Nene Pimentel, respetado ang maong grupo ug dili basta-basta makasulod sa maong partido. Duna pay daghang seremonyas nga agian usa pa maka-sulod sa PDP-Laban.

Pero sa panahon na sa iyang anak nga si Koko, morag lima singko na ang makasulod sa PDP-Laban.

Isaka ra ang kamot, tomatik na dayon nga makasulod, bisan gani kadtong nag-shorts lang ug wala gani kaagi sa mga training, seminar o briefing, lahos-lahos na makasulod.

* * *

Mao kini ang problema sa mga politiko, apil na ang lokal nga mga politiko.

Asa man sila mo-hural, sa Lakas o sa grupo ni Inday Sara Duterte?

Kon adto sila sa Lakas, matod pa, nindot ang ilang kaugmaon sa piniliay sa 2025 kay matod pa, naglana-lana ug nagbaha ang kwarta sa admin party ug dako kini og ikatabang sa piniliay pohon.

Pero ang problema kay daghan gihapon ang nagtuo nga hilabihan ka-kusog si Inday Sara ug dako kaayo ang tsansa nga ma-presidente siya sa 2028. Kon moadto sila sa Lakas, dawaton pa kaha sila sa grupo ni Inday Sara pohon?

Modawat kaha si Inday Sara og mga balimbing, sama sa ubang mga poilitiko nga gihimo lang nga political convenience ang pagtabok-tabok og partido?

Kon ibalik ni Inday Sara ang iyang grupo, mag-unsa na man lang ang mga politiko nga hilabihan na nga naka-isa sa kamot, ug nakangisi sa pisbok, tungod sa ilang pagtapo sa Lakas?

Matod pa sa usa ka politiko – hilabihang labaras ulo Dol, unsaon kaha ni namo ron?