Displaying leadership by example, Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo apologized and paid the monetary fine when he was apprehended by a member of the community monitoring and enforcement team (COMET) for throwing a cigarette butt to the canal at the City Hall complex.
 
A COMET member approached Tamayo on July 17 at around 6:40 p.m. when he saw the councilor throwing a cigarette butt. After he was reminded by the COMET enforcer, Tamayo immediately expressed apology and asked how much the penalty would be.
Emphasizing that the implementation of the law must be fair to all, he paid the P300 fine and told the enforcer: “What I just did is embarrassing to you, to the mayor and to the Sangguniang Panlungsod.”
“This is a very good example of effective, non-selective, fair and courageous way of enforcing an ordinance,” Tamayo added.
He stressed that his gesture of admitting his violation was due to his high respect for the mayor, the SP and the “majesty of the law.”
“If I will not follow the law, then there is no reason for other people to follow what we do at the SP,” he said.  
“Councilor Tamayo should be commended for his humility. He set a good example as model citizen and official,” city administrator Rafael Baraan said even he underscored that no one is above the law in Dagupan City. He also commended members of COMET for doing their work.
Peacenest consultant Tony Boquiren added that Tamayo congratulated the COMET and that he took the apprehension positively.
Boquiren quoted Tamayo, saying, “As an official, a gentleman, a reserve military officer, and a lawyer, I should know the importance of enforcement and admittedly it is the hardest part.” (Sunshine D. Robles)