The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) on Saturday explained that the clamping of city councilors’ vehicles along D. Jakosalem Street during Sinulog activities was part of standard enforcement procedures in response to an official complaint.
CCTO head Raquel Bohol Arce said the incident occurred on January 13, when the Traffic Enforcement and Operations Division (TEOD) conducted a clearing operation after the Sinulog 2026 Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) reported unauthorized vehicles parked in a no-parking zone near City Hall.
Enforcers found several unattended private vehicles along the closed stretch of Jakosalem Street. While some had Sinulog 2026 car passes, no drivers were present to confirm ownership.
Clamp boots were attached as part of the standard procedure but were not locked, and no citation tickets were issued, Arce said.
When City Councilors Alvin Arcilla and Winston Pepito later arrived and identified the vehicles as theirs, CCTO personnel immediately removed the clamps, and no further enforcement action was taken.
Arce noted that these details were not visible in the video that circulated online, which contributed to public misunderstanding of the incident.
She emphasized that parking privileges during Sinulog apply only to properly identified vehicles, and stickers alone do not automatically grant authorization, especially if the vehicles are unattended.
“The vehicles were unmarked, privately owned, and left without drivers. Our personnel were responding to a complaint and enforcing existing rules,” Arce said, stressing that there was no intent to offend city officials.
The clarification came after Councilor Pepito said the controversy arose from miscommunication within City Hall.
He maintained that councilors were instructed by the Office of the Vice Mayor to temporarily park along Jakosalem Street after their regular parking area was taken over by Sto. Niño devotees.
Pepito also said he has no issue with CCTO enforcers, noting that they were simply performing their duties, but questioned how the incident was publicly framed, particularly on social media.
Arce called for cooperation as Sinulog activities continue, saying the CCTO remains focused on ensuring order, safety, and smooth traffic flow during the festival period. (LLP)
