San Fernando OPS clarifies bypass road ticketing incident

The Office of Public Safety (OPS) of the City Government of San Fernando, La Union, issued a clarification following the online circulation of photographs showing city traffic enforcers issuing traffic violation tickets to several vehicles parked along the San Fernando Bypass Road, including those belonging to the Land Transportation Office Region I.

The clarification sought to address allegations and misconceptions arising from social media posts that questioned the city government’s enforcement of road obstruction and illegal parking regulations.

On 12 February 2026, a vlogger identified as Gilbert Mendoza posted online content alleging that OPS was “doing nothing” to regulate illegally parked vehicles along the bypass road. OPS described the claim as inaccurate and misleading, emphasizing that its Traffic Operations Unit (OPS-TOU) conducts regular road-clearing operations, often in coordination with the Philippine National Police – San Fernando City Police Station, particularly on major roads and congestion-prone areas, including the bypass road.

Earlier that morning, the OPS head communicated with Land Transportation Office Regional Director Glorioso Daniel Z. Martinez to revive a previously planned joint operation between OPS and LTO Region I. The operation had been postponed last year. Both parties agreed to proceed, designating a meeting area beside the bypass road east of the LTO regional office, where LTO service vehicles were to remain on standby while personnel finalized reports prior to deployment.

Following the coordination, Assistant Traffic Supervisor Genaro N. Hidalgo was instructed to deploy two motorcycle-riding traffic enforcers to the area, while TAII Geraldo Cabanban volunteered to initiate clearing operations near the SM area.

However, due to an apparent miscommunication, the designated meeting area inadvertently became the site of enforcement activity. City traffic enforcers began issuing citation tickets to parked vehicles, unaware that some, including LTO units, were on standby for the joint operation.

Bystanders captured photographs of the incident, which later circulated on social media. A member of the LTO law enforcement team subsequently contacted OPS to clarify the situation, prompting the cancellation of the planned joint operation.

OPS reiterated that claims of inaction on road obstruction are baseless. It noted that OPS-TOU, the PNP, and LTO regularly conduct road-clearing operations, checkpoints, and the issuance of citation tickets as part of their mandate to ensure public safety and order.

The agency clarified that the citation of LTO vehicles was an unintentional result of miscommunication. Traffic supervisors have been reminded to ensure proper coordination and clear communication during operations to prevent similar incidents.

In response, Martinez expressed appreciation for the clarification.

“We are committed to maintaining close coordination with our local partners to ensure consistency and fairness in traffic enforcement. What happened was an honest mistake, and we appreciate the prompt clarification by the OPS,” he said.

The City Government of San Fernando, through OPS, reaffirmed its commitment to fair, consistent, and well-coordinated enforcement of traffic and public safety regulations.