FEBRUARY 26, 2026 — Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando finally resurfaced in public, leading a scholarship distribution at the Capitol Gymnasium, but the real story wasn’t the 18,000 youth scholars he proudly paraded — it was the silence that hung over the room. Not a word, not even a hint, about the alleged road rage incident that has set social media ablaze.

The controversy is messy. Reports claim Fernando’s convoy hogged four lanes along NLEx, only to be overtaken by a son of President Marcos Jr. Allegedly, his security detail retaliated by blocking the presidential son’s vehicle — until they realized who they were dealing with. 

Malacañang quickly denied the story, but the buzz refuses to die down.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla was adamant. 

“Don’t act like a king,” he said, calling out Fernando’s supposed habit of treating NLEx like his personal driveway. 

“It has become Governor Fernando’s usual behavior that, when he travels along NLEX, four lanes are occupied and no one can overtake him,” Remulla added. 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government even ordered Fernando to surrender firearms and vehicles linked to the incident, while the Land Transportation Office investigates. 

Meanwhile, rumors swirled online that Fernando had been reprimanded or even injured in a scuffle with a national official — yet his public appearance showed no bruises, no swelling, just a poker face.

So why the silence? In a country where public officials are quick to defend themselves against even the smallest slight, Fernando’s refusal to address the issue feels calculated. Is it damage control, or is there more to the story than what’s being denied?

We know too well how power plays out on the road — convoys, sirens, lanes blocked, ordinary drivers pushed aside by aggressive escorts. The incident strikes a nerve because it mirrors everyday frustrations of citizens who feel second-class on their own highways, bullied by these so-called public servants.

So, while scholarships are a noble cause, the governor’s silence may prove louder than his generosity.

Will the people of Bulacan still accept a governor who won’t answer the very questions that matter most?

(Image: Philippine Information Agency)