Actor-turned-politician Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando has addressed reports linking him to the alleged road rage incident involving his convoy and a son of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), urging the public to "respect" official statements already issued on the matter.
In a speech delivered at the Bulacan Provincial Capitol on March 2, Fernando said both Malacañang and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have released statements regarding the issue and appealed to the public to consider the matter settled.
“Sa mga kumakalat na balita sa social media, nais ko pong linawin na ang isyung ito na sinasabing road rage. Malinaw nang nagpahayag ang Malacanang tungkol dito at ng LTO. Irespeto na po natin 'yon. Okay na po 'yan,” Fernando said.
He emphasized that amid negative comments circulating on social media, what matters most to him is the trust and confidence of the public.
“Sa puntong ito, hindi ang negatibong balita na kumakalat sa social media. Ang mas mahalaga sa akin ay ang inyong pagtitiwala at pagkilala sa aking pagkatao,” he added.
The controversy stemmed from reports of a supposed road rage incident involving Fernando’s convoy and a son of Marcos Jr. along NLEX on the evening of February 21.
However, Malacañang denied that any presidential son was harassed on the expressway and did not confirm such an incident.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Johnvic Remulla earlier said he had spoken with Fernando regarding the alleged road harassment incident.
“It does not matter if it was a presidential son or not. Nagiging ugali na ni Governor Fernando na pag nagbiyahe siya ng NLEX ay apat na lane na occupied niya na walang pwede mag-overtake. Daig pa ang presidente kung bumiyahe. So, irregardless kung sino ang naging biktima, that was wrong,” Remulla said.
Prior to this, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered the surrender of firearms registered under Fernando, his security escorts, and several vehicles reportedly involved in the incident as part of the investigation. The items were later released, according to Remulla.
“Marami nang reports kasi ng road rage na accused siya. So this has to stop, di ba? Hindi naman criminal act ang ginawa niya. Wala naman siyang pinatay, wala namang ginulpe, wala namang ganun eh. Pero it has to stop. Hindi pwede makahari yung mga gobernador eh,” Remulla added.
