A traffic enforcer from the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) sustained hand injuries after being run over by a white sport utility vehicle (SUV) on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, around 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of Escario Street and Osmeña Boulevard in front of the Provincial Capitol.
Victim identified as Jovanie Verano
The injured enforcer was identified as Jovanie Verano. According to closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, heavy traffic had already built up at the Escario Street–Osmeña Boulevard intersection. To prevent congestion from worsening on Escario Street, Verano stopped vehicles coming from the Banawa-Guadalupe area.
While signaling the white SUV to halt, Verano turned his back to direct vehicles along Osmeña Boulevard to proceed toward Velez Street. At that moment, the white SUV suddenly lurched forward, striking Verano and knocking him onto the concrete road. He immediately rolled away to avoid being fully run over.
Injuries and quick response
Although Verano managed to keep his body and head clear of the vehicle's tires, the SUV ran over his left hand, injuring his fingers. Verano stated, “Awas man sa sakyanan ang Escario, so ako siya nga gipapahunong aron dili ma block ang intersection. Nihunong man sad siya so paghunong niya, ni forward ko kay akong pahunong ang ubang sakyanan, niabante man nag kalit, maayong pagka bunal nako.” (There were a lot of vehicles on Escario, so I stopped the SUV to avoid blocking the intersection. The driver initially stopped, so I moved forward to halt the other vehicles. Suddenly, the SUV accelerated and struck me.)
Since the SUV did not stop after hitting him, Verano quickly called for backup from fellow traffic enforcers, who intercepted the vehicle along Escario Street. A parking attendant, Ariel Daan, also immediately chased the SUV and blocked its path while informing the driver that he had run over a traffic enforcer.
Attendant's heroism
Daan said, “Naluoy man ko sa traffic enforcer nga iyang naligsan, mao to ako gidagan ang driver. Gibabagan nako nya dili man unta mohunong gyud, ako gihan-an og labay og bato, mao to ni abli siya sa pultahan, nag kurog.” (I felt sorry for the traffic enforcer who was run over, so I chased the driver and blocked the SUV. He didn't seem like he was going to stop, so I pretended I was about to throw a rock. That's when he opened the door. He was shaking.)
The injured traffic enforcer was taken to a private hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the SUV driver admitted he did not realize he had run over someone. He said he had traveled from Lutopan in Toledo City and was on his way to the Provincial Capitol to process the title of his property. “Wala ko kabantay nga naka ligis ko. Padung man unta ko sa Capitol kay mag asikaso sa title sa akong yuta,” the driver said. (I didn't notice that I had run over anyone. I was heading to the Capitol to process my land title.)
Driver's response and recognition
The driver declined to be photographed by the media but assured authorities that he would shoulder the victim's medical expenses. Upon learning of the incident, CCTO head Raquel Arce said she hopes to personally meet the parking attendant who helped stop the SUV so he can be recognized for his actions.
