PNP checkpoints to include 4-wheel vehicles

MANILA, Philippines — Police checkpoints will no longer be limited to motorcycles but will also include four-wheeled vehicles.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has ordered those manning checkpoints to include cars and other four-wheeled vehicles, the PNP said yesterday.

In expanding the types of vehicles subjected to checkpoint and Oplan Sita operations, Marbil said criminals are not limited to using motorcycles in their illegal activities.

“There was this stigma before about people who are riding-in-tandem,” Marbil told reporters in Filipino on the sidelines of the PNP Press Corps Shoot Fest at Camp Karingal in Quezon City.

There are cases wherein riding-in-tandem criminals perpetrated shooting incidents and robbery cases. This was said to be the reason why police focused on motorcycle riders at security checkpoints.

For Marbil, criminals can also use four-wheel vehicles in their activities. However, he is concerned that inspecting other vehicles apart from motorcycles may cause traffic.

“Let’s not cause any inconveniences to the people, but expect us to treat everyone equally,” he stressed.

1-Rider Party-list Rep. Bonifacio Bosita, a former police official, recently shared on his Facebook page a memorandum dated June 22, 2024 from PNP Directorate for Operations director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Salvador, reminding policemen of the proper conduct of checkpoint operations.

Salvador, in his memorandum, said they have received feedback from stakeholders on the “selective” implementation of checkpoint operations by police officers.

“The non-adherence by some PNP personnel to the policy has placed the PNP in an awkward position that cannot be defended, no matter the reason for such discriminatory implementation,” he said.

Quezon City Police District director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said policemen usually check four-wheel vehicles without license plates and heavily tinted cars.

“We inspect every vehicle, including armored vehicles without plate numbers,” he told reporters in an interview.