James Deakin has 1.1 million Facebook followers as a “transport blogger, vlogger, writer, motivational speaker,” and “car reviewer and road safety advocate,” discussing car launches. He entered my consciousness twice when he used social media within the sphere of public interest.

Bongbong Marcos created the BBM Vlog in 2018, starting with his election protest against then-vice president Leni Robredo, hinting at the presidency for 2022. 

The second episode showed Marcos attending the premiere of Fallen, Not Forgotten: The Untold Story of the Gallant SAF 44. But the opening was unrelated: Marcos talking to James Deakin and architect Jun Palafox. Days earlier, Marcos’ friend released a photograph of these men on a car ride.

Deakin’s “association” with Marcos became controversial. On January 19, 2018, he lamented on Facebook how people judged him without facts. He said he wanted to fix Manila traffic and had to be an “objective journalist,” completely blind to affiliations. 

Never mind the country’s history then.

Advocacy for public good

On January 12, 2026, ABS-CBN reported that Deakin as appeared before the Land Transportation Office (LTO). A subpoena was issued to his son, who was apprehended on December 18, 2025, for “reckless driving” when he changed lanes on Skyway. In the subsequent investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle was under a loaner agreement with a car dealer for advertisement. Documents were needed to prove that a vehicle could be legally operated.

Do you wonder why this would make it to the news?

The son, whether personally or through an SPA, did not contest his apprehension. Thus, as of December 23, 2025, he had admitted his indicated liability. He had until January 2, 2026, to pay the P2,000 administrative fine. All these could be found in any Temporary Operator’s Permit, LTO Citizen’s Charter, and DOTC-LTO-LTFRB JAO 2014-01.

Because of holidays and weekends, LTO was only open on December 18, 19, 22, 23, and 26. Deakin’s family was on vacation, so he could only pay the penalty on January 5. For failure to present the OR/CR, however, his son’s license was suspended. 

Deakin turned to social media. Calling out LTO because it shouldn’t ask for the OR/CR of a vehicle their family didn’t own, because his son shouldn’t get a criminal record for improperly changing lanes, because people should be able to experience Christmas without worrying about government deadlines.

How could you not expect LTO to retaliate, an eye for an eye, in the public arena? 

In its press con, LTO alleged that Deakin’s son crossed the double solid lane before the Quezon Avenue exit, but that “reckless driving” is not “reckless imprudence.” Also, that the loaned vehicle was unregistered, with merely a document from importer to dealer.

Deakin said — and many agreed — that the LTO was unfair.

“The main issue was the 15-day deadline…as well as the demands for unnecessary paperwork that is not in the Citizens Charter…. Yet despite the public outcry about that, the LTO held a press conference to answer a question nobody asked: whether or not my son violated traffic rules.” 

Never mind then that an unregistered vehicle would be a case of “reckless driving” like driving on a highway without reasonable caution. Never mind that anyone who’s party to a case would be subject to filing deadlines that are not based on working days. 

There’s no decision yet on the driver, traffic enforcer, and car dealer. Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation changed the rule of “calendar days” to “working days” regarding LTO deadlines. So Deakin said: You did it, you won yourselves a fairer system. 

That statement led me to question the victory that was supposedly meant for us motorists

Deakin is a road safety advocate. He is a car reviewer. His son driving a test vehicle for advertisement purposes and without registration documents — if indeed that was the case — would be legitimate cause for alarm.

As for Deakin’s son, an adult, he didn’t go out on social media. It wasn’t evident if he even wanted to speak. Agency — that ability to act and adapt — somehow got lost there.

Storytelling as a means to an end

Sometimes, rules are put together for good reason. Sometimes, people act out of pure motivation. Sometimes, it’s tricky to see what’s real, not some stage built with pomp. 

I understand the value of persuading others to embrace one’s arguments. But there’s something troubling about storytelling fixated on winning, couched in smart language and imagery. Never mind the facts, the totality of consequences. 

Social media is a numbers game, but games still entail fair play. It’s not about suppressing public commentary on a live case. It’s about integrity, how transparent bloggers need to be to their audience. After all, they’re dealing with principles and institutions like road safety, adjudication mechanisms, and corruption. Online, word travels fast. Amidst all the noise, who then would demand accountability except us? – Rappler.com

Jazmin Banal was a lawyer for Leni Robredo. She joined the Movement Against Disinformation after the 2022 elections.