A vehicle belonging to a Cebu City councilor was clamped by traffic enforcers, an incident that has clarified and stirred controversy over parking privileges at the City Hall. The event demonstrates that even elected officials are not exempt from traffic regulations.
Details of the Clamping Incident
The incident occurred around 4:30 PM on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The private vehicle of Councilor Winston Pepito, who chairs the Committee on Transportation and is a member of the Traffic Management Council, was clamped while he was attending a session. Another vehicle belonging to Councilor Harry Eran was also clamped.
Both cars were parked in an area typically reserved for councilors. However, that specific spot had been temporarily blocked off for Novena activities at a nearby church. This led traffic enforcers to clamp the vehicles parked there.
CCTO Defends Action, Clarifies Rules
Raquel Arce, head of the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), firmly stated that the clamping was not a mistake. "This is not a failure. It was really clamped. I really wouldn't have discussed this incident yesterday thinking it was already okay, but there really is no letting go of a councilor who has no other job than to look for faults against the administration of Mayor Nestor Archival," Arce explained.
She clarified that the city-issued Vehicle Pass stickers only serve as access to the restricted parking area of City Hall and are not a parking permit. Arce emphasized that if an enforcer does not recognize a vehicle as belonging to a councilor, it will still be clamped. She noted that councilors only have the special privilege to park in spaces designated for emergency vehicles.
Call for Understanding Amid Parking Shortage
Arce also called for public understanding due to the severe lack of parking space in the city. "This is not a normal situation. Nowadays, you are really troubled, that's why I am having you share with EMERGENCY VEHICLES. One hundred vehicles cannot really enter if everyone parks from 8 AM until 5 PM," she said.
For his part, Councilor Pepito described the event as a miscommunication. "We were prohibited from parking there according to the Mayor's instruction, while our regular parking area was still being used. The enforcers were already informed, but they still proceeded with the clamping. Raquel just said she would explain," Pepito stated.
The City Hall's traffic management team revised its statement, saying their personnel were merely enforcing the law and were not personally targeting councilors. Arce concluded with a plea for peace, "We have high respect for you. I hope that this disclosure of my part will not be considered by the honorable councilor as me picking a fight with him. Pit Senyor Konsehal. Let's make peace, kons, not war."
