A Calamba, Laguna city councilor explained his need for “traffic assistance” after a video of vehicles with escorts in the area went viral among Filipinos.
Automotive publication VISOR on July 8 posted a dashcam footage sent to them by a reader, which showed vehicles being escorted by motorcycles with sirens and blinkers.
The driver of the dashcam-equipped vehicle was asked to move, but it did not budge.
One of the escorted vehicles later moved to the middle of the road, straddling two lanes.
“Hi, Visor. Sorry, question lang. May authority ba sila? Government vehicles. Maluwag ‘yung kalsada pero parang nangha-harass. Nakakakulo lang ng dugo kasi may wang-wang—daig pa ang ambulance,” the sender was quoted as saying.
“Just want to expose this abusive governtment worker na nagpa-power trip sa kalsada. Calamba, Laguna, po ‘yan,” the sender added.
The post has so far garnered 11,000 reactions and 2,800 comments on Facebook.
Calamba City Councilor Alvin Laude Manguiat issued a statement on Saturday, June 11, saying that he needed to attend meetings, one as a city councilor for a session and the other as a board member of the Laguna Provincial Board.
“Nais ko lamang pong magbigay ng maayos at malinaw na paliwanag tungkol sa puting Ford na sasakyang inisyu ng LGU ng Calamba City at inaalalayan ng ating mga POSO Motor Cops ng Calamba,” he said in a statement.
“Una sa lahat, taos-puso po akong humihingi ng paumanhin kung ako man ay nakapagdulot ng abala o sagabal sa mga kababayan nating bumibiyahe mula Calamba patungong Santa Cruz, Laguna,” Manguiat said.
He then explained his obligations, saying that he needed to attend two meetings that had a “short duration” between them.
“Dahil sa napakaikling pagitan ng dalawang sesyon at sa matinding daloy ng trapiko, lalo na sa Los Baños at Santa Cruz dulot na rin ng mga kasalukuyang ginagawang kalsada, napakahirap pong makarating sa Kapitolyo bago mag-ala-una ng hapon,” Manguiat said.
“Batid po ito ng ating mga kababayang araw-araw na bumibiyahe sa nasabing ruta. Sa karaniwang sitwasyon, hindi po sapat ang isang oras at kalahati para sa biyahe mula Calamba City Hall patungong Kapitolyo ng Laguna sa Santa Cruz,” he added.
“Sa tulong at pag-alalay ng ating mga POSO Motor Cops ng Calamba, naihahatid po ako sa Kapitolyo upang makadalo sa oras at magampanan ang aking mga obligasyon bilang PCL Laguna President at Board Member ng Lalawigan ng Laguna,” the city councilor continued.
He then asked for understanding, saying that he does not want taxpayers’ money to go to waste if he fails to fulfill his obligation as a public official.
“Ayaw ko po kayong biguin. Ayaw ko ring masayang ang bawat buwis na pinaghirapan ng ating mga mamamayan. Kaya para sa akin, nararapat lamang na gawin ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya upang magampanan ang mga tungkuling ipinagkatiwala ninyo sa akin,” Manguiat said.
“Nawa po ay maunawaan ng ating mga kababayan ang aking sitwasyon at ang mga responsibilidad na kaakibat ng aking tungkulin bilang Konsehal ng Lungsod ng Calamba, PCL Laguna President, at Board Member ng Lalawigan ng Laguna,” he added.
