Video of Cebu radio blocktimer berating traffic cop over ticket goes viral

A Cebu radio blocktimer found himself in hot water after an audio recording of him berating a traffic enforcer over a traffic violation found its way to social media this week.

 

The recording, posted as a video on Facebook, went viral as it gained more than 30,000 views in the first six hours after it was posted, GMA Cebu reported Thursday.

 

It had gained 146,351 views and 6,698 share as of 4 p.m. Thursday.

The GMA Cebu report said the incident occurred May 20 at the South Reclamation Project area, when blocktimer Roger Cimafranca was accosted by City Integrated Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) enforcer Lyndon Ocampo.

 

At the time, Ocampo flagged down Cimafranca's motorcycle as it was overloaded, and his two passengers were not wearing helmets.

 

Cimafranca allegedly dropped the names of local personalities to avoid paying the fine but Ocampo stood his ground.

 

CITOM operations head Jonathan "Joy" Tumulak said Cimafranca has been charged before the prosecutor's office for violating the city's traffic code.

 

Tumulak said Cimafranca faces a fine of P2,000 for his passengers' failure to wear helmets, and another P500 for overloading, as the ordinance allows only one other rider.

 

According to the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, blocktimers are broadcasters who buy airtime from radio stations to produce shows independent of the network they are broadcasting through. The blocktimer then usually sells the "block" of airtime to advertisers and sponsors. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News