For impounding his privately-owned car and later demanding “settlement pay”, second district board member Romulo G. Cepedoza wanted cops from the Traffic Management Group (TMG) investigated. “This matter must be investigated. If these supposed law enforcers were able to do it to me, how much more to ordinary motorists,” board member Cepedoza said in his privilege speech delivered Friday during the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session. His car, an Isuzu Crosswind, was stopped last Wednesday, Oct. 27, by a group of highway patrol police led by PInsp. Joselito Lerion, with PO2 Rey Peralta and PO1 Exequiel Suico. The car was driven by his son Mark Ryan and was stopped for allegedly illegal parking and traffic obstruction. The son said how could he be parking illegally when he was on the wheels and only stopped the vehicle to let the board member's secretary alight from the car.

The driver presented his license, the Official Receipt (OR) and Certificate of Registration (CR) of the vehicle to the TMG officer, identified as PO1 Peralta. The officer, however, demanded another document; deed of sale and arrogantly told the board member's wife, Dra. Luzviminda Cepedoza, to go to the car dealer Venecy ISUZU and get the deed of sale. Board member Cepedoza, when informed of the incident, immediately proceeded to the area along CPG Avenue near the FCB main building. He introduced himself to the team leader PInsp Lerion who assured him: “it's okey na Sir.” But Lerion told Cepedoza that the car had to be brought to the TMG office at Camp Dagohoy since it would not be appropriate to just release the vehicle with so many people in the street looking Cepedoza took the word of officer Lerion but when the car was already inside Camp Dagohoy, it was impounded and not released as promised.

At around 4:00 in the afternoon, after Cepedoza attended a meeting at Bohol Tropics, he went back to the TMG office but was told that prior to release a “settlement fee” is to be paid first. Cepedoza wondered what settlement fee is he to pay when the TMG officers did not even issue a traffic citation ticket or an impounding fee receipt. Another officer, PO2 Peralta, also allegedly told Cepedoza, “ato lang ni areglohon sir” (let's just settle this sir). “This blatant display of arrogance of law enforcer has no place in this peaceful and democratic society. This must be investigated to protect our people,” Cepedoza said. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan, after hearing the revelation of the board member unanimously agreed to conduct and investigation jointly, as a committee of the whole. (Reports by EdCom.VGO-SP)