By Felipe V. Celino
Mayor Dadivas, Andrade face graft raps ROXAS CITY Mayor Ronnie Dadivas and Tricycle Franchising and Regulatory Unit (TFRU) head Edgar Andrade are facing graft raps for alleged non-release of mayor’s permits for tricycle franchises. Felizardo and Rosephine Furigay formally filed a complaint before the
Ombudsman Assistance Center last February 25.
Tricycle driver Neil Arapan of Barangay Punta Cogon also fi led a separate complaint before the
Ombudsman.
While Arapan said he does not know the reason while his franchise was not renewed, the Furigay couple has reason to believe they are being targeted politically.
The Furigay couple claimed they had submitted all required documents and paid the necessary fees, yet the mayor’s permit was not released.
A few days later, Andrade allegedly told them that their permit was denied because they were allegedly kontra partido or deemed to be against the Dadivas administration.
Rosephine also disclosed Andrade advised them to transfer the franchise to her name since Felizardo was ineligible to own a franchise as a regular employee of the City Engineer’s Office as stipulated by a city ordinance.
Records show that Furigay failed to renew the franchise in 2024 while Arapan’s expired in 2023.
In a radio interview, Dadivas denied the accusation that the non-release of the
tricycle franchises was politically motivated.
Dadivas explained that Furigay and Arapan failed to process correctly the requirements of TRFU.
In particular, Dadivas mentioned the ordinance that prohibits Felizardo Furigay to acquire a tricycle franchise under his name as he is a regular city hall employee.
Dadivas also has expressed that he suspects that his political rivals are behind the Ombudsman complaints.
