The multitude of administrative charges filed against Catanduanes State University (CatSU) President Patrick Alain T. Azanza last Sept. 26, 2024 arose from a tricycle group’s dispute with the president over parking rights at the main gate.
A copy of the affidavit-complaint filed by Jun Obusan Torres, board chairman and spokesperson of the University Gym Market Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (UGM TODA), showed that the university president was charged with having committed acts constituting grave misconduct, oppression, conduct unbecoming of a public official, abuse of authority, abuse of discretion, electioneering and partisan political activity, grave neglect of duty, unfair discrimination, and unjust act depriving the rights of occupation of UGM TODA, in violation of Sec. 4(c), (d), (e), and Sec. 5(a).
The complainant recounted how they were eased out of their original parking space at Gate 2 which they had used since 2016, with the rival group STACAP TODA joining them after the other gate was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Azanza assumed office in 2021, Torres said the former inked a memorandum of agreement with STACAP TODA over UGM TODA’s Gate 2 parking area, unjustly forcing them out and depriving them of their rights and livelihood.
In 2022, UGM TODA was advised to park and queue at the less lucrative Gate 1 but after almost a year, they were instructed to leave the area after Azanza allegedly favored their rival by including both gates in the MOA with STACAP TODA.
Torres also accused the president of harboring political ambitions by putting tarpaulins with his face and “Padagos na Patanos” propaganda on every STACAP TODA tricycle as well as using a radio program at a government station to promote himself and attack potential opponents in the mid-term elections.