PHILIPPINE National Police chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. has warned any member of the 226,000-strong organization that they will be charged in court and dismissed from the force if they will be arrested for using evidence motor vehicles or motorcycles.

Azurin has ordered his men to fully implement PNP Standard Operating Procedures or PNP-SOP No. 2011-004 or the Revised Procedure in the Reporting and Disposition of Stolen and Recovered /Impounded Motor Vehicles.’

Himself a former PNP Highway Patrol Group officer, Azurin wants to ensure that policemen are fully prohibited from using unregistered, recovered, impounded and stolen motor vehicles and motorcycles or even removing any part or accessory of these vehicles as part of their strict internal cleansing program.

Last week, two policemen were arrested and jailed for committing the offense.

One of them identified as Patrolman Marvin Salim, an intelligence operative of the Obando Municipal Police Station in Bulacan, was nabbed by agents of the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP IMEG) for using a motorcycle recovered during the investigation of a robbery-holdup case in the province,

PNP-IMEG director, Brigadier Gen. Warren F. de Leon said the Bulacan policeman is facing criminal and administrative charges for violation of Republic Act 11235 otherwise known as the Motorcycle Crime Prevention.

According to the official, members of the IMEG National Capital Region Field Unit led by Captain Leonardo R. Dulay arrested the accused in front of the Alfamart Convenience Store located along Joaquin Street in Barangay Pag-asa, Obando municipality 8:20 p.m. last October 18.

Seized from the suspect was a blue Yamaha Sniper motorcycle with motor vehicle file number 1303-082277. De Leon said the motorcycle turned out to be an evidence vehicle—used as the getaway of the suspects in a robbery-holdup case in the municipality last October 20.

De Leon said the IMEG-NCRFU headed by Lieutenant Colonel D’Artagnan D. Katalbas Jr. placed the suspect under surveillance in coordination with the IMEG Luzon Field Unit headed by Lt. Col. Danilo M. Perez, the Obando MPS and the PNP Highway Patrol Group’s Special Operations Division-Task Force Limbas.

“The surveillance operation was launched amid reports received by our office that the subject police non-commissioned officer is using a recovered motor vehicle which is a blatant violation of existing PNP rules and regulations,” said the PNP-IMEG director.

The arrested policeman was immediately whisked to the IMEG headquarters in Camp Crame and is now being held at the unit’s lock-up facility pending his inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice.

The 2nd erring cop identified as Pat. Anthony Lacandazo, a 42 -year-old operative of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 4-A was arrested by members of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for using a recovered motor vehicle in Calamba City, Laguna.

According to PNP-CIDG director, Brig. Gen. Ronald O. Lee, the accused, a resident of Sta. Rosa City, Laguna was arrested by a team from the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit headed by Lieutenant Colonel Joselito E. Villarosa Jr., the HPG 4-A and the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group 4-A in Barangay Laguerta in Calamba City past 6 p.m. last Thursday.

The arrest was made following reports that the accused has been using an evidence vehicle—specifically a white Nissan Van 350 stolen during a robbery-holdup incident in Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa City last July 20.

When flagged down by his colleagues for the initial offense of unlawful transfer of plate number, the accused HPG operative was found driving the white van with the license plate NDV 9038.

A record check showed the said plate number was originally assigned to a 2019 model Nissan Terra.

The suspect is now under the custody of the CIDG-AOCU for filing of appropriate criminal charges. Lee said they will also recommend to PNP-HPG director, Brig. Gen. Clifford B. Gairanod, the filing of administrative charges for grave misconduct against the accused.

“Manhunt operations are still ongoing to apprehend and arrest Lacandazo’s cohorts,” said Lee as he called on his men to intensify efforts to go after rogue police personnel who continue to tarnish the good reputation and image of the force.

Members of the force have long been prohibited from using recovered stolen motor vehicles or those recovered during any crime investigation.

Violators face dismissal from the police force. The order was issued amid reports that some erring policemen are using vehicles recovered from raids or other police operations.

The crackdown over the years has led to the arrest of a number of policemen found driving recovered stolen motorcycles or motor vehicles or those recovered in police operations like service of search warrants for illegal possession of drugs and firearms.

Azurin said there will be no more warnings for police officers and men who have the habit of using recovered motor vehicles and motorcycles.

The PNP chief ordered the PNP-HPG headed by Brig. Gen. Clifford B. Gairanod, the PNP-CIDG and the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, to step up their campaign against police officers and men using ‘hot cars’ including recovered stolen motor vehicles and motorcycles.

The PNP leadership has ordered a regular nationwide inspection and inventory of all motor vehicles impounded as evidence in different police headquarters to prevent their unauthorized use by some erring policemen.

Surprise camp lockdowns are also being made to inspect ‘unregistered, recovered, impounded and carnapped or stolen vehicles’ being driven by some unscrupulous persons.

The PNP chief warned police personnel found to be using evidence vehicles of stiff administrative sanctions for “infidelity in the custody of evidence” while those in possession of undocumented or stolen vehicles will face appropriate criminal charges.