‘I Acted Respectfully, Legally’: Motorist in Viral Standoff Denies Obstruction Claim

By Gerome Dalipe

A motorist involved in a viral traffic standoff in Barangay Tabucan, Mandurriao District, has denied allegations that she caused congestion during the April 22 incident.

In her response to a show-cause order from the Land Transportation Office Region 6 (LTO-6), the driver maintained that she followed proper traffic rules and blamed traffic enforcers’ mishandling of the situation for the prolonged standoff.

“I acted respectfully and legally,” she said, disputing claims of reckless driving and obstruction while citing CCTV footage to support her account.

The incident, livestreamed on Facebook, gained public attention after the woman was seen arguing with enforcers and accusing one of corruption.

The show-cause order, delivered June 5 by Shiela Mae Alulod, chief of LTO-6’s Intelligence and Investigation Unit, and signed by Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II, required the driver to submit a detailed explanation within five days.

The order was based on claims that the motorist made an illegal right turn from the left lane at the intersection of R. Mapa Street and Don Donato Pison Avenue, refused to present her license, and streamed the confrontation online.

The driver countered that she activated her turn signal 50 meters in advance, changed lanes 30 to 40 meters before the intersection, and proceeded at a safe speed.

This contradicted the enforcer’s claim that she merged just five meters before the turn and nearly hit another vehicle.

She urged investigators to review CCTV footage and noted the lack of signage prohibiting her lane change.

The driver also denied accusations of noncompliance, saying she intended to present her license but wanted clarification of the alleged violation first.

“I never refused to comply,” she said, adding that the three-hour delay was caused by a breakdown in communication and the enforcers’ “rudeness and arrogant behavior.”

She apologized for the caption of her livestream, “Buaya na enforcer sa Tabucan,” saying it was due to “frustration and emotional distress.”

The Iloilo City Transportation and Traffic Management Office charged her with violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 for insinuating corruption and with resistance and disobedience under Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code.

The driver requested the dismissal of obstruction and reckless driving charges, an investigation into the enforcers’ conduct, and the preservation of her clean driving record pending the LTO hearing.