MARCH 2, 2026 — Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando has finally spoken up about the alleged road rage incident involving his convoy along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). His words? Short and dismissive: “Okay na po ‘yan.”

The controversy erupted after reports claimed Fernando’s vehicles harassed a convoy linked to a son of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang quickly denied the incident, but the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) still stepped in to investigate. 

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla didn’t mince words, saying: “Naging ugali na ni Governor Fernando na ‘pag nabiyahe siya ng NLEX ay apat na lane na occupied niya na walang pwede mag-overtake. Regardless kung sino ang naging victim, mali ‘yung ginawa niya.” 

(It has become Governor Fernando’s habit on NLEX to occupy four lanes where no one can overtake. Regardless of who the victim is, what he did was wrong.)

Fernando, meanwhile, framed the issue as a matter of trust. 

“Sa puntong ito, higit sa anumang negatibong balitang nagkalat sa social media, ang mas mahalaga sa akin ay ang iyong pagtitiwala at pagkilala sa aking pagkatao,” he said.

(At this point, more than any negative news spreading on social media, what matters to me is your trust and recognition of my character.)

But why do public officials often treat our streets and highways like their personal playgrounds? Ordinary motorists know the frustration — convoys cutting across lanes, sirens blaring, escorts acting like kings of the road, practically pushing you aside to make way.

So it’s not just about Fernando — it’s about the culture of entitlement that makes us feel second-class on our own highways.

The LTO probe is ongoing, but Fernando’s shrugging off of the issue raises eyebrows. 

We’re sick of leaders treating highways like their personal red carpet. The truth is, the real rage isn’t just on NLEX — it’s simmering inside every commuter stuck in traffic, watching convoys speed past like they’re above the rules. Ordinary drivers pay tolls, follow rules, and endure the grind, yet some officials act like kings (or queens) of the road. 

When will our leaders finally drop the entitlement and drive like the rest of us?

(Image: Daniel R. Fernando| Facebook)