Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has ordered the recall of a service vehicle whose driver flashed a dirty finger at a motorist, which went viral on social media.
The service vehicle with the photo and name of the mayor on it is not government owned, City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu said Thursday, Dec. 19.
Benitez, in a statement Thursday, said “I am aware of a viral post involving a community service vehicle linked to my office. The driver committed a traffic violation and displayed unacceptable behavior, which does not reflect our values.”
This vehicle, issued in 2023 for youth leaders to support community services, was clearly misused, he said.
Benitez said he directed the City Legal Office to retrieve it and reassign it to a barangay for proper use.
“We remain committed to accountability and responsible service to Bacolod City,” he said.
The City Legal Office is investigating the incident. The Bacolod Traffic Authority Office recovered the vehicle on Thursday. The driver, who is not a city employee, was summoned and will be investigated on why he was driving the vehicle that was supposed to be for the youth leaders, Chiu said.*