In a move that sparked public discussion, the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) temporarily immobilized several vehicles owned by city councilors during a clearing operation ahead of the Sinulog festivities. The action, which took place on January 13, 2026, was described by officials as a standard procedure following a formal complaint, with no intention to single out any public figure.
Standard Procedure, Not Targeted Action
CCTO head Raquel Arce explained that the operation was conducted by the Traffic Enforcement and Operations Division (TEOD). It was initiated after the Sinulog 2026 Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) filed a complaint regarding vehicles parked in a "No Parking Zone" on D. Jakosalem Street.
Upon verification, traffic enforcers found several private vehicles unattended in the prohibited area. Arce noted that while some cars displayed Sinulog 2026 "car pass" stickers, the absence of drivers made it impossible to immediately identify the owners. This led to the standard immobilization process. "The vehicles had no markings, were privately owned, and had no attendants, so our personnel had no chance to identify the owner," Arce stated.
Councilors' Vehicles Among Those Clamped
The clamped vehicles included those belonging to Cebu City Councilor Winston Pepito and other councilors. Arce emphasized that the clamps were placed as part of the process but were not locked, and no citation tickets were issued at that time.
The situation was resolved when the owners arrived. Councilors Alvin Arcilla and Winston Pepito came to the area and identified their vehicles. Once ownership was confirmed, CCTO personnel immediately stopped the clamping and removed the devices. No further action was taken against the officials.
Arce addressed circulating online videos, pointing out that they failed to show the subsequent removal of the clamps, which contributed to public misunderstanding of the event.
Clarification on Parking Privileges and Rules
The CCTO chief clarified that while councilors are granted certain parking privileges, these are difficult to enforce when vehicles are unmarked or lack clear authorization. She reminded the public that parking privileges are only valid when a vehicle is clearly identifiable and that "access stickers" do not automatically serve as a parking permit.
Arce assured that the operation was carried out without any intent to offend city officials. "We had no other choice but to respond and enforce the law, which is the primary duty of our office," she said, expressing hope for an amicable resolution to the issue.
She also appealed for public understanding and cooperation as traffic authorities continue to manage road safety and enforce parking rules during the busy Sinulog season.
