Emergency response sabotage: Unlicensed rider faces charges for blocking Bacolod firefighters

• LTO-NIR has identified a call center agent who blocked a BFP truck in Barangay Alijis on Jan. 15, causing a critical delay in fire response
• Authorities discovered the rider was driving without a license and using an unregistered motorcycle borrowed from its owner
• The rider faces multiple counts of reckless driving and failure to yield to emergency vehicles under Republic Act 4136
• A second investigation is underway for a separate viral video of a dangerous overtake at the Magsaysay Street flyover in Bacolod

In a significant move for public safety in Bacolod City, the Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region (LTO-NIR) has officially identified and summoned the motorcycle rider caught on video obstructing a responding Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) truck.

The incident, which occurred in Barangay Alijis on January 15, 2026, sparked widespread outrage after footage showed the motorist refusing to yield despite the fire truck’s sirens and loud honking.

Read also

Title Variations Catchy title: Heated argument at a local market leads to machete attack

The Bureau of Fire Protection reported that their emergency response was notably delayed due to the rider's actions.

Following a swift investigation using the LTO's Information Technology System, authorities tracked down the motorcycle’s registered owner.

LTO-NIR Officer-in-Charge Jeck Conlu revealed that the rider, identified as a call center agent, was not the owner of the vehicle but had borrowed it.

Crucially, the investigation uncovered that the driver does not possess a valid driver’s license, and the motorcycle itself has an expired registration.

A show-cause order was served to both the rider and the vehicle owner on January 19. They have been given five days to provide a formal explanation.

The rider faces multiple charges under Republic Act 4136, including:

Reckless Driving (Section 48): For endangering public safety.

Failure to Yield (Section 49): For not giving way to an emergency vehicle.

Driving Without a License: An aggravating factor in the case.

Delinquent Registration: Operating an unregistered vehicle.

"Every second counts during a fire. A delay can mean the difference between life and death," stated Fire Inspector Jemarie Tapiru, deputy city fire marshal.

Read also

Speeding van crashes into Jones Bridge railings; foreign-looking driver detained

The LTO is also investigating a second viral video involving a rider and a female passenger performing a dangerous overtake on a double yellow lane at the Magsaysay Street flyover.

Officer Conlu emphasized that the agency is prioritizing these cases to deter similar behavior, noting that the "double yellow lane" violation is particularly hazardous.

For the Alijis incident, the motorcycle is slated for impoundment, and the owner may also face penalties for allowing an unlicensed individual to operate the vehicle.

In other news, a high-speed van collision has severely damaged the iconic metal railings of Jones Bridge in Manila. Local police took the driver—identified as a foreign national of Asian descent—into custody after detecting a heavy scent of alcohol at the scene. Though the vehicle's front end was crushed and pedestrian barriers were shattered, the driver avoided serious injury in the early Tuesday morning crash. As the city prepares to bill the suspect for heritage property repairs, authorities are warning night-time joggers to remain extra cautious on the bridge. https://kami.com.ph/philippines/182980-speeding-van-crashes-jones-bridge-railings-foreign-driver-detained/

Still in other news, a first-time visitor from Osaka, Japan, fell victim to a coordinated "salisi" robbery during the peak of the Ati-Atihan festivities in Kalibo. The perpetrators managed to siphon roughly P300,000 from the victim’s credit card shortly after lifting his wallet in the crowded festival zone. Surveillance footage captured a female suspect acting as the primary pickpocket while two accomplices shielded her from public view and police patrols. The Kalibo Municipal Police have launched a full investigation, utilizing localized security clips to track down the organized group targeting foreign tourists. https://kami.com.ph/philippines/182981-japanese-tourist-loses-wallet-credit-card-salisi-gang-ati-atihan-festival-kalibo/

Source: KAMI.com.gh