Iloilo City Mayor Vetoes Traffic Adjudication Board Ordinance Over Legal Concerns
Sponsored by Atty. Romel Duron
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Trenas has vetoed Regulation Ordinance No. 2023-175, which sought to create a Traffic Adjudication Board (TAB) to resolve disputes over traffic violations. The ordinance, sponsored by Atty. Romel Duron, proposed a board composed of legal and transportation officials to review contested apprehensions and impose administrative sanctions. However, Mayor Trenas rejected the measure, citing it as ultra vires (beyond legal authority) for violating fundamental legal principles, including the presumption of regularity for traffic enforcers and the burden of proof requirement. The veto emphasized that shifting the burden of proof to enforcers would undermine their official duties and conflict with Supreme Court precedents.
Atty. Duron had championed the ordinance to address growing disputes between drivers and traffic personnel, arguing it would ensure fairer enforcement of traffic laws. The proposed TAB would have allowed drivers to contest citations within 15 days, with enforcers required to justify apprehensions. Despite its intent to improve transparency, the mayor’s veto halts the initiative, preserving the current system where drivers bear the burden of proving wrongful citations. This decision highlights the balance between accountability and operational efficiency in local governance.
