A motorist posted pictures on social media of the brazen act of a person who was driving a white vehicle that bears a sticker depicting the face of Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez.

The driver gestured to the motorist the middle finger, or dirty finger.

According to the social media post, while at the Bacolod City Government Center a white van turned to a certain direction at about the same time the motorist was also moving on the same direction.

The incident that could have led to a road mishap got reportedly the ire of the driver.

He challenged allegedly the motorist to a fight, and gestured the middle finger, deemed an obscene gesture of contempt.

According to the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO), the white van was used as a campaign vehicle by campaign managers at the barangays in 2023.

The vehicle has been used for community service of Yuhum Foundation.

“It was a vehicle used for campaigning. Once he [Benitez] became mayor, that vehicle was used by the Yuhum (Foundation). Hiniram ng isang staff and used it for errands…hiniram ng kanyang asawa (husband),” Jose Antonio Robello, deputy chief of BTAO, pointed out. 

As of this writing, Yuhum Foundation has not issued a statement yet on the staff member's husband's use of the vehicle.

The City Legal Office conducted an investigation on the incident.

“There will be sanctions sa driver kasi hindi talaga maganda yun. Sa kanyang action, hindi bagay as a person kahit even hindi pa sya government employee or worker to make that sign to other people, parang hindi talaga nararapat,” according to Bacolod City Administrator Lucille Gelvolea.

Further, it was learned that Mayor Benitez ordered the retrieval of the vehicle.

“Ang command ni mayor is to retrieve the vehicle. It’s not a government vehicle and the driver is not a government employee,” Robello further pointed out. 

The City Legal Office turned over the vehicle to BTAO.

The van is set to be turned over to the barangays for community service use.