A driver of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) defied road rules and hit a traffic enforcer manning the road.

The incident happened at past 6 p.m. in F. Cabahug Street corner Pope John Paul II Avenue in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City on September 30, 2024 and was caught on CCTV camera.

The traffic enforcer gestured to the driver that he is supposed to go on a straight path, but the driver did not heed. He proceeded to turn left. The traffic enforcer moved toward the approaching SUV, but the driver apparently did not stop, as shown in the video.

The trafficman was hit by the vehicle, fell to the pavement, was able to stand, albeit limping.

“Disregarding traffic sign which is the road parking for straight going kay naa man siya sa inner most lane, so mao straight siya, dili siya pwede mo-left turn,” Atty. Kent Francesco Jongoy, assistant head of the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), said.

The trafficman and the driver reached a settlement, but Acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia is determined to have the driver sued.

Garcia said that it is just and proper that charges be filed against the driver as there was apparent intention in hitting the traffic personnel. 

“Grabe kaayo ang iyang gibuhat. I really think that it was done with malice. Dili na man to aksidente. Tinuyo na man to,” Garcia said in an interview.

He has given specific instructions that a case be filed against the driver of the vehicle.

Garcia said he even called up Atty. Rey Gealon, head of the Cebu City Council Committee on Traffic, to make sure and follow through that cases will be filed against the driver.

The CCTO will assist in the filing of charges as the victim was rendering service at that time being a bona fide government employee of the Cebu City Government.

The victim and the driver have refused an interview, but they are set for a meeting with officials of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Cebu City.

The LGU has also coordinated with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for appropriate action against the driver.