City Legal Officer, Atty. Joselito Bayatan, yesterday confirmed his office will pursue charges against a foreign national, who allegedly disrespected a Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) enforcer by writing profane language on a citation ticket issued to him.

Bayatan said they are preparing the charges of resistance and disobedience to a lawful authority against Benjamin Oates, a British national, and current resident of the Hillside Subdivision in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Bayatan explained the charges fall under Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code.

He called it a “sorry state” since Filipinos often look to western culture for “higher civilized standards” of social ethics.

Bayatan said they will also be checking his records with the Bureau of Immigration.

Earlier, Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, said the individual could face criminal charges on the grounds of “cyber libel” after allegedly posting a picture of the citation ticket on social media with profane language.

Ebreo added, a cyber libel charge may result in a maximum prison sentence of six years./DGB, WDJ