King of the road? Nueva Vizcaya mayor gets flak online

NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines – The mayor of Quezon, Nueva Viscaya, has been getting flak online his alleged “rude” behavior toward a driver, although the local chief executive of this town north of Manila insists his accuser is just making up stories.

A certain Justin Bangad posted in his Facebook account photos of vehicles congesting a one-way bridge in Barangay Maddiangat in Quezon town. They include the Toyota pick-up of Mayor Aurelio Salunat.

“Two vehicles, a brand new pick-up truck going to Quezon and an old van going to Solano (town of Nueva Viscaya), ‘FACED’ each other, standing off, drivers tensed, on the very narrow entrance of the bridge,” Bangad said in his post.

“One look on (sic) the scene would tell anybody that if the pick-up would just back out a few meters, the van, nearer to the road, and every vehicle following can easily pass,” Bangad continued.

Bangad said he approached the driver of the pick-up, but was met by rude words.

“He was defiant and rudely pointed to the van driver and yelled, ‘Eh, p—– i–, kanina ko pa sinenyasan, tumuloy pa rin eh!” he said, quoting the mayor. (S– of a b—-, I signaled to him [that I would proceed first], but he still went on! )

Still not aware that he was talking to the town mayor, Bangad said he pleaded for the driver to just back off because the van on the other end reached the bridge first.

But he said the mayor yelled again at him: “P—– i–, ako ang mayor dito! (S– of a b—-, I’m the mayor here!)”

The van then backed off and gave way to the mayor’s pick-up car.

Some netizens said that, as the leader of the town, the mayor should have been more respectful and courteous in handling the situation.

“I’ve heard a lot of really bad comments regarding this politician,” Mae Sibbaluca said.

“The fact that he was approached politely and requested to give way and ignored for his personal reasons is not a sign of a person having a good heart,” Eric Bangad commented.

Mayor speaks up

But the mayor was quick to say that Bangad was making up stories.

Mayor Salunat said he reached the bridge first, contrary to the claim of Bangad.

“I signaled the van to stop there because I was already about one-third finished across the bridge. But it did not give way and the van’s driver even drove faster,” Salunat said.

Salunat said they had a confrontation in the middle of the bridge for several minutes.

He denied that he was arrogant in saying that he was the town mayor. He also belied the claim of Bangad that he spoke unpleasant words.

“They must know road courtesy because I came first,” Salunat said. – Rappler.com