The Philippine National Police (PNP) has said it will intensify its crackdown on motorists using sirens, blinkers and unauthorised motorcycle escorts.
“We are imposing existing measures against the indiscriminate use of prohibited sirens, bells, horns, whistles or similar gadgets that produce staggering sounds, as well as motorcycle security escorts when traversing highways and major thoroughfares for personal advantage and easy passage,” Lt Gen Archie Francisco Gamboa, PNP officer in charge, said in a statement.
Gamboa directed all PNP unit commanders to ensure strict enforcement of Memo Circular 2017-049 or the “Policy on the Provision of the PNP Mobile and Motorcycle Security Coverage.”
Under the circular, PNP mobile and motorcycle security will only be for the president, vice president, Senate president, speaker of the House of Representatives, chief justice of the Supreme Court, other authorised government officials and foreign delegates during national events.
In Gamboa’s new directive, only patrol vehicles and motorcycles, rescue vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances and patrol vehicles of the Scene of the Crime Operatives and the Special Weapons and Tactics team are allowed to use sirens or blinkers.
Gamboa said the PNP motorcycles and mobile cars are only “authorised for police patrol purposes, not for weddings, birthdays, and funerals.”
The PNP acting chief tapped all unit commanders to deploy police and traffic personnel for immediate assistance to emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and fire trucks, caught in traffic along Edsa.
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