By Phoebe Salvador
Eagle News Service
(Eagle News) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has indefinitely suspended a towing company that brought towed motorcycles to its garage instead of the agency’s impounding site.
MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said in a press briefing on Tuesday, June 19 the accreditation of Arrom Towing Services and its six tow trucks were indefinitely suspended in response to a complaint of a motorcycle rider.
Based on the complaint sent to the MMDA’s Metrobase, the rider’s towed motorcycle was brought to the towing company’s garage located in Balintawak, Quezon City.
This prodded MMDA personnel to conduct an entrapment operation at the site, where they discovered five other towed motorcycles inside the garage.
Garcia pointed out that this was a violation of the MMDA rules and protocols that specified that “all towed vehicles must be brought to the MMDA’s impounding site, no other place.”
He reminded that all towing service operations must be accompanied by MMDA personnel before hauling any vehicle.
“It is the MMDA personnel who issue citation tickets, not the towing crew,” he said.
Garcia also urged motorists who have been victimized to file their complaints against Arrom as its action can be considered vehicle theft.
“Let us be warned against these erring towing services and this kind of unlawful activity,” said Garcia.
Meanwhile, Garcia said plans are underway to professionalize and implement stricter regularization on accredited towing companies following the directive of MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim.
“We target to finalize this plan within the year. We have been consulting the Automotive Association of the Philippines on this,” Garcia assured.
