Humingi ng paumanhin sa publiko ang American pop-rock band na Stephen Speaks matapos kuwestiyunin ang naging post nila sa Facebook noong February 17, 2023.
Kasalukuyang nasa Pilipinas ang banda para sa kanilang upcoming shows na handog nila sa Pinoy fans.
Ngunit kamakailan ay naging laman ng usap-usapan sa social media ang Stephen Speaks matapos ang kanilang viral post patungkol sa pagpapalusot umano sa kanila ng isang traffic enforcer matapos nilang magka-traffic violation.
Kuwento ng grupo sa naturang post, nahuling nag-beating the red light sa Manila ang sinasakyan nilang transport network vehicle service (TNVS), pero nang alukin ng selfie ng tour crew ng banda ang enforcer ay hindi na raw tiniketan ang TNVS driver.
Paborito raw kasi ng enforcer na kantahin sa videoke ang "Passenger Seat" na isa sa hit songs ng Stephen Speaks kung kaya't pinalusot sila.
Mababasa sa kanilang post (published as is), "Our Grab (like Uber) driver just got pulled over in Manila for running a red light, and my tour crew bribed him with a selfie with me to let us go.
"He said he sings Passenger Seat at the karaoke bar.
"I was like…. I can’t believe that actually worked [laugh emojis]."
Dahil dito, ilang netizens ang umalma. Hindi raw tamang palampasin ang mga ganitong insidente dahil pagpapakita ito ng pambabastos at hindi paggalang sa batas-trapiko sa bansa.
Agad itong nakarating sa Stephen Speaks kung kaya't agad nilang nilinaw sa post na walang kasalanan ang driver.
Depensa nila, ipinakita ng TNVS driver ang kuha ng kanyang dashcam na nagpapakita na wala silang nilabag na batas-trapiko..
Saad nila, "(Edit - The kid driving us showed the officer on his dash cam that he was clear of the light, someone stopped in front of him and that’s why he didn’t make it all the way through.
"We aren’t criminals here. It’s like the replay in a sports game when the referee realizes he saw it wrong.
"I just thought it was funny the officer wanted a selfie with me.
"I apologize for using the word “bribe”, that’s not actually how it went down.)"
STEPHEN SPEAKS APOLOGY
Sa hiwalay na post nitong February 18, 2023, humingi ng paumahin sa publiko ang grupo sa pangununa ng frontman singer ng Stephen Speaks na si Rockwell Ryan Ripperger.
Inamin nilang mali ang mga ginamit at pinili nilang salita sa nauna nilang post.
Wala rin daw silang masamang intensiyon at nirerespeto nila ang mga awtoridad sa Pilipinas.
Mababasa sa kanilang post, "Hi everyone. Thanks for reaching out but we're moving on from this. We did not mean anything by this.
"It was just a poor choice of words on our part. It was done in jest that resulted in this.
"We apologize to all who have been bothered by this seeming disregard for authority.
"Rest assured, we respect all the authorities in the Philippines. We will learn from this."
Dagdag pa nila, "Once more, my sincerest apologies."
MMDA OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Hindi rin ito nakalusot sa pamunuan Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Ayon sa inilabas nilang official statement noong February 18, hindi pa nila tukoy kung saang lugar eksaktong nangyari ang insidente pero imbestigahan daw nila ang nangyari.
Anila, "The MMDA will investigate if the traffic enforcer who was bribed, as identified in the post of the American pop-rock band Stephen Speaks, is one of its personnel.
"The agency will coordinate with LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade to look further into the possible suspension of licenses of those involved.
"The MMDA would like to stress that fame, power, and connections are not considered free passes to avoid being ticketed. It is wrong that a traffic violator was not given a citation ticket just because the passenger is a well-known figure.
"Should the band's clarification be true, the apprehension is likewise wrong since motorists who cross on a green light but stucked in the middle just when the light changes to red should not be flagged down unless given signal by the enforcer beforehand.
“Likewise, drivers and motorists who get away with their traffic violations just by using their popularity and connections and boasting about it on social media are not praiseworthy and not something to be emulated for."