A vlogger from Bacolod City has apologized to Land Transportation Office – Western Visayas (LTO-6) Regional Director Gaudioso Geduspan for threatening the agency’s traffic enforcer during a Facebook Live broadcast.
“This is clearly harassment against an officer performing lawful duties. LTO-6 will not tolerate any form of intimidation or abuse targeting our personnel,” Geduspan said in a statement on Tuesday, June 24.
According to LTO-6, the violator was apprehended for operating an unregistered motorcycle and driving without a valid license in Barangay Mansilingan here on April 4.
On Monday, the vlogger visited the LTO-6 Regional Office in Iloilo City to personally apologize to Geduspan, who warned online content creators to “refrain from maligning government agencies or personnel for clicks and entertainment.”
“Those found to have defamed or threatened LTO staff could face legal action under laws protecting public officers from harassment and intimidation,” he added.
The rider, who goes by the name “Black Barbie” on social media, settled his fines and reclaimed his vehicle at the LTO Bacolod City District Office on June 10.
However, minutes after leaving the LTO office, he went live on Facebook and named the enforcement officer in a “profanity-filled rant with veiled threats.”
The LTO-6 then issued a show-cause order against him, requiring the motorist to submit a written explanation within five days or face administrative sanctions, including possible license suspension or revocation.
Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, motorists who harass law enforcers risk having their driving privileges suspended or revoked, LTO-6 Assistant Regional Director Jeck Conlu said.
“Vloggers who use their platforms to denigrate government agencies or employees may also be held accountable under existing laws,” he added. *PNA