‘2 vehicles used by Bermejo registered under city’s name’
ROXAS CITY – The two Mitsubishi Pajeros used by former Mayor Vicente Bermejo that he later returned to the Capitol are registered in the name of the city government, and Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas said he wants an investigation on the controversy.
In a privilege speech, Dadivas said that his office and that of the mayor wrote the City General Services Office inquiring on the ownership of the three vehicles, the two Pajeros and a Nissan Safari Patrol.
He said there are confusion and doubt on the real owners of these so-called “flying vehicles” and he believes that the records of the City General Services Office will help shed light on the issue.
Bermejo surrendered the three vehicles to the provincial government before his successor Mayor Alan Celino assumed office.
City Administrator Rey Cordenillo confirmed to The News Today that only the Pajeros are registered in the name of the city government.
“Before Bermejo stepped down as a governor in 2007 and assumed the chief executive position of this city, the provincial government bought two Pajeros, which were later donated to the city government through a Memorandum Receipt,” he said.
The Safari Patrol is owned by the provincial government, but when Bermejo became city mayor, he asked Gov. Victor Tanco to sell the car to him, Cordenillo said.
However, the transaction was not realized that Bermejo has to return the Safari Patrol to its rightful owner, he said.
As former Capiz governor, Bermejo “physically” returned the three vehicles in order to get his P750,000 terminal benefits from the provincial government, Cordenillo said.
The outcome of the City Council’s investigation will determine the real owner of the vehicles, he added.
As of press time, the vehicles are under the custody of the Provincial Engineering Office in Brgy. Lawaan.