The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has denied allegations that Vice President Sara Duterte was the cause of the traffic disruption that happened in Commonweath Avenue in Quezon City on Thursday, Oct. 5.
In an official statement, it said that Duterte was not involved in the traffic disruption caused by the Quezon City Police District's (QCPD) closure of a portion of Commonwealth Avenue as she was in Mindanao for World Teacher's Day and other activities.
"The Vice President did not ask QCPD and will never ask government agencies, including law enforcement bodies, to carry out actions that would inconvenience the public or cause them harm," the OVP said.
"The Vice President will always put the interest and welfare of the public over her own personal interest and privileges," it added.
The statement came after a video went viral on social media wherein the flow of traffic was ordered to stop as the "VP" was about to cross, according to a police officer.
“May dadaan po tayong VIP. Si VP. Ko-cross lang po saglit,” said the police in the video posted on X (Twitter) shared by former Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño.
According to Casiño, the video was sent by a former military man.
Sinarado ang isa sa pinaka busy na kalsada sa bansa dahil tatawid ang isang ViP? Grabe naman yan.
— Teddy Casiño (@teddycasino) October 5, 2023
Sent to me by an ex-military man. pic.twitter.com/hybUl2vo9y
The OVP contradicted the video, saying it was "spreading injurious information that is grounded in falsity."
"The Vice President will always put the interest and welfare of the public over her own personal interest and privileges," it said.
The OVP urged the QCPD to conduct an investigation into the incident and the involved individuals, including the liability of the person who took the video.
QCPD is also expected to rectify the error and publicly disclose the identity of the VIP involved in the said road closure, according to the VP's Office.
