HPG: We will not tolerate traffic violators

MANILA, Philippines - The director of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (HPG) said his men who would be deployed to enforce traffic law and discipline on EDSA starting Monday will be strict with all erring motorists.

HPG director, Chief Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao said the deployed highway patrol group police officers would be performing the same traffic management functions as the traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). However, the difference, said Gunnacao, is that the police officers would not play it easy with erring motorists and public utility vehicle drivers.

“Hopefully everything will be fine and asahan natin ang cooperation ng drivers in particular para maayos natin ang takbo ng traffic flow. Halos ganun din sa MMDA (traffic management role) pero strict implementation at enforcement ng traffic laws. Siguro yug pagtingin ng drivers natin sa constables (MMDA traffic enforcers) natin ay yung power hindi masyadong nakikita unlike kung tayo ang nakatayo dun. Walang pakiusapan,” Gunnacao told reporters at the MMDA where he met with MMDA officials and Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras for a briefing on the HPG’s new traffic management role on EDSA.

According to Gunnacao, the HPG has committed to provide 60 police officers for the EDSA traffic management duty. Gunnacao said the police officers have been divided into two batches and have started a crash training on traffic management from the MMDA. The initial batch of 30 police officers will undergo training until Saturday while the second batch will start training next month, said Gunnacao.

Gunnacao said the HPG would try to stage a “dry-run” on Sunday of its traffic management duties before they officially takeover from the MMDA the following day. The deployed HPG officers would be manning their posts along EDSA – particularly at the six identified choke points – in two shifts.

On Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino III ordered the PNP-HPG to take the lead in traffic law enforcement along EDSA’s 23.8-kilometer stretch away from the MMDA. He also ordered the HPG to prioritize the clearing of six identified choke points along EDSA: Balintawak, Cubao, Ortigas, Shaw Boulevard, Guadalupe and Taft Avenue.

According to Gunnacao, President Aquino ordered them to issue the erring motorist a traffic violation ticket within 30 minutes of apprehension. After issuing the ticket, the apprehending police officer would then release the vehicle.

Gunnacao said the deployed HPG officers would be extra strict on buses and will not tolerate buses leaving the designated bus lane on EDSA.

“Walang lalabas dapat ng bus lane na buses. Strictly pang bus lang ito. Sa lahat po strict tayo kahit private motorists. Anybody who violates the law,” he said.

Gunnacao said motorists who feel that they have been apprehended by mistake are free to file their complaints at the HPG office in Camp Crame.