CEBU, Philippines — A total of 190 motorists were assessed with traffic violations while several vehicular accidents were reported in Cebu City while the whole country observed the “Kalagkalag” during the eve of and on All Saints’ Day the other day.
The City’s Public Information Office quoted Raquel Are, head of the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), as saying that since Oct. 31, they already issued 190 citation tickets, 60 of which were handed out last Friday.
The citation tickets were for various traffic rules violations by motorists, including three who had their vehicles clamped and towed away. CCTO also seized six motorcycles for “safekeeping,” as well as nine tables and 15 monobloc chairs that obstructed the streets.
In the past three days, there were also 30 road crashes and six bogged down vehicles that were recorded in different areas of the city, involving taxis, modernized public utility jeepneys, trucks, private cars, and motorcycles.
The CCTO reminded everyone to following traffic regulations to ensure public safety and order on the road.
‘Sun Goku, Spiderman’ apologize
Road safety is something that three content creators certainly learned the hard way before the “Kalagkalag” after the Highway Patrol Group-7 summoned them for their recent stunt at the Transcentral Highway.
P/Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, HPG-7 chief, warned those who would make a similar attempt, which endangers lives and properties, would certainly face charges.
“Ang mosunod nila, wa nay warning. Deritso na og pasakahan og appropriate charges, like violation of traffic rules and violations under the city ordinance,” he said.
He made the statement after summoning to his office Leonilo “Boy Banat” Arquita and Jason “Jason lK” Engalan for what they did while at the Transcentral Highway for content purposes. The video of their shenanigan went viral.
In that video, Engalan, who was dressed as “Spiderman,” was driving a motorcycle with an assembled sidecar. Arquita, who was dressed as Son Goku of the Dragon Balls cartoon series, was riding on the roof of the sidecar, while another person, who was wearing a Batman costume, rode as a passenger of the sidecar.
“Last Sunday ni nahitabo and the video went viral and we are being asked by our head office kung what action was taken regarding this issue. Mao to atoa silang gipatawag,” said Parilla.
HPG-7 called the attention of the three and Arquita and Engalan showed up for the press conference last Thursday, where they were made to understand the potential risk for their actions for motorists. The other content creator, who was in Batman costume, failed to attend.
Arquita and Engalan apologized for what they did and promised not to do it again.
Parilla said the guy in a Batman question should also show up and explain himself.
“Para fair kay ipatawag pud tong nag-costume og Batman. Kaila ra pud to nila,” he said,
Parilla urged everyone to remove from the Internet similar videos so as not to encourage others to likewise do the same, considering that the Transcentral Highway is an accident-prone road. — (FREEMAN)