CEBU, Philippines - The Highway Patrol Group-7 will be sending at least two police personnel from its unit to the National Capital Region to help man the traffic in Metro Manila.
Chief Inspector Oliver Plania of the HPG-7 said they received a text message from the HPG-NCR last Monday asking the units in the different regions to contribute police personnel who are willing to be assigned to NCR.
Plania said Senior Police Officer 3 Edwin Pineda and Police Officer 1 Jonard Dagangan volunteered to be assigned in NCR to help man the traffic along EDSA.
“This is not compulsory. It’s just voluntary. So this is just for those who are willing to be assigned in the NCR,” said Plania, adding that Pineda and Dagangan are natives of Manila.
Plania said that they still have to wait for the memorandum from Camp Crame on when the two will be sent to the HPG-NCR.
He said Pineda and Dagangan are currently deployed for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Cebu. While there are still upcoming big events in the province such as the International Eucharistic Congress, Plania said they need to heed the order from higher headquarters.
“Wala mahimo kay mas kinahanglanon ang tawo. Kinahanglan pud sila og assistance,” he said.
Plania said if time comes that HPG-7 will also need assistance, they will request for assistance from the higher headquarters.
Plania explained that the main task of HPG is to keep guard of any carnapping incidents while manning traffic is their second function.
However, since traffic is the main concern of the higher headquarters as of now, it can be considered as the primary function of the HPG units.
“Karon nga ang kahitas-an na man gyud na ang nag-order, mahulog nga primary na lang sad na nga buhatonon,” said Plania. — Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/ATO (FREEMAN)