TTMO Seeks Sanctions vs. Driver in Viral Standoff

By Gerome Dalipe IV

The Iloilo City Traffic and Transportation Management Office has asked the Land Transportation Office Region 6 to impose administrative sanctions on a woman who berated a traffic enforcer during a four-hour standoff in Mandurriao District on April 22.

In a letter to LTO-6 Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II, TTMO Chief Uldarico Garbanzos cited the “misbehavior and offensive actuation” of the driver, who allegedly refused to follow lawful orders and hurled defamatory remarks at the enforcer.

Garbanzos emphasized that the traffic personnel were performing their duties under the presumption of regularity and in the interest of public safety and orderly traffic management.

The incident happened around 4:15 p.m. at the intersection of R. Mapa Street and Don Donato Pison Avenue in Barangay Tabucan, Mandurriao.

Traffic enforcer Arturo Sajonia Jr. flagged down the woman after she was allegedly caught making an illegal right turn from the left lane just meters before the yellow junction box, in violation of visible traffic signs.

Instead of cooperating, the driver allegedly refused to surrender her license and began live-streaming the encounter on Facebook.

She reportedly used the platform to insult the enforcer, accuse him of corruption and make defamatory statements.

The standoff lasted more than three hours and ended only when police from Iloilo City Police Office Station 10 intervened.

The driver was issued a citation for violating Regulation Ordinance 393 (Disregarding Traffic Signs), but she refused to sign the ticket.

She identified herself using a Social Security System ID but withheld her driver’s license.

The video, uploaded on her Facebook account with the caption “Traffic Enforcer ba mga Buya d sa Tabucan, Mandurriao,” allegedly caused reputational damage to TTMO and its personnel.

On May 20, TTMO filed a complaint before the City Prosecutor’s Office for alleged violation of Section 4(c)(4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which penalizes online libel.

Additional charges for resistance and disobedience to a person in authority under Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code were filed on May 28.

TTMO is urging LTO-6 to impose sanctions to uphold respect for traffic enforcers and ensure effective traffic management in Iloilo City.