Cebu City Hall worker faces dismissal over bus’ lewd sound effects

Local

THE driver of the Cebu City-owned Green Bus with lewd sound effects could be dismissed from government service after an investigation found he deliberately installed and continued using the unauthorized reverse alarm despite repeated warnings from fellow drivers.

Speaking on Monday, July 27, Mayor Nestor Archival said the Department of General Services (DGS) has already submitted its investigation report, and the matter is now with the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO), which will determine the appropriate administrative penalty.

"If the findings of HR require that we remove him, then we are going to terminate that guy," Archival said.

"So that it won't happen again. If there are people thinking of doing things that are inappropriate, then we will remove them. But we are just waiting for the recommendations coming from HR."

The mayor's statement came a week after the city government launched an investigation into a viral social media video showing a Cebu City-owned Green Bus emitting what netizens described as an inappropriate reverse alarm while passing near a funeral service.

A fact-finding investigation by the DGS identified five bus drivers who installed reverse alarms on their assigned buses without prior authorization. However, investigators found that only one driver personally purchased and installed the non-standard reverse alarm featured in the viral video.

According to the report, the four other drivers merely installed conventional reverse warning alarms salvaged from decommissioned city buses to improve safety because of the buses' limited rear visibility.

Investigators found no evidence that the four acted in bad faith or derived any personal financial benefit from the installations.

The report, however, singled out the driver assigned to the viral bus.

Investigators found that he personally bought the unauthorized reverse alarm and continued using it even after fellow drivers repeatedly advised him to remove and replace it with a standard warning device.

The report noted that the bus later became the subject of a widely circulated social media video, exposing both the DGS and the city government to public criticism.

Archival confirmed the findings, saying investigators discovered that while five drivers had installed reverse alarms, only one intentionally used an inappropriate sound.

He said the driver had also ignored repeated reminders from his colleagues.

"In fact, his fellow drivers had already warned him that it wasn't good. But he continued doing it," the mayor said, adding that the driver had reportedly used the same sound not only near the cemetery but in other places as well.

The mayor said the DGS has already removed all

unauthorized reverse alarms from the city buses.

He clarified that the city government never required Green Buses to be fitted with such devices and that the installations were initiated by the drivers themselves without approval.

"They were removed because, as I've said, our department never required those reverse alarms. The drivers themselves installed them," Archival said.

The investigation also found that an electrician assigned to the Bus Repair Section installed the reverse alarms upon the request of the drivers without first securing approval from his supervisors.

While investigators found no evidence of misuse of government funds or personal financial gain, they concluded that the vehicle modifications violated established procedures governing government property because they were carried out without proper authorization.

The DGS has recommended referring the drivers and the electrician to the Human Resource Management Office and the City Legal Office for the institution of appropriate administrative proceedings, subject to due process.

It also recommended requiring prior written approval before any repair, modification, or installation of accessories on government vehicles and conducting orientations for drivers, mechanics, and electricians on proper procedures governing government property.

Archival also reminded all city employees to strictly perform only duties within the scope of their authority and to seek approval from their superiors before making decisions affecting government property.

"If you think something should be done, inform your superior first. Don't just do it on your own," he said.

"That applies not only to the drivers but to all employees. They should remain disciplined and do only what is proper."(TGP)