THE search for the missing contract is far from over.

JLD Motors and Towing Service, which was supposedly commissioned to tow and clamp vehicles in the city during the administration of then Mayor Benjamin Lim, will be investigated by the current administration of Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr.

Fernandez, through City Administrator Alvin Fernandez, ordered City Legal Officer George Mejia on Thursday to write to JLD compelling it to show proof, such as a contract, that it had legal authority to carry out towing and clamping in the city.

JLD, which was operating in Dagupan since 2005, suddenly pulled out of the city earlier this year after its owner, Jaime de la Pena of Sta. Maria, San Jacinto, was invited by the city council to explain the questionable contract.

The city had determined that there is no such contract filed in its records.

“I will write JLD Motors and ask it to produce a contract with the city of Dagupan. I will conduct an investigation after I receive the reply of the JLD Motors,” Mejia said.

De la Peña was invited by the previous city council to appear in order to confirm it really had any contract, but instead of appearing, he pulled out his towing truck and was never seen again.

City officials said the company has a lot of explaining to do because it was issuing its own official receipts to owners of towed or clamped vehicles without any indication that it was remitting the collections to the city government.

Mejia said he will start his fact-finding by talking to officials who may possibly know about the contract or arrangement.

City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara earlier said she told the city council that a 20-80 sharing basis was supposedly in effect, but admitted that she did not see any contract.

Public Order and Safety Office chief Robert Mejia also said he did not see any contract, although   one or two men from his office, in their trademark orange uniform, were always among those on board the tow truck.—LM

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