PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos has ordered his men nationwide to refrain from unnecessarily using the sirens and blinkers attached to their marked vehicles as part of his effort to instill discipline in the force and make sure these gadgets will really be a symbol of authority, not abuse.

The PNP chief said he does not like to see nor hear nor watch reports on police vehicles driving around crazy in the streets with their sirens and blinkers on even though they are not running after fleeing criminals. He also abhors the presence of police escorts using their sirens to shoo away other motorists or go against the flow of traffic.

The top cop also ordered PNP Highway Patrol Group director, Brigadier Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil to instruct his men to go after motorists including law enforcement officers known for their unauthorized of sirens and blinkers and other gadgets in their motor vehicles which are prohibited by the law.

Private motorists found that the banned gadgets must be dismantled from their vehicles and surrendered to the PNP-HPG before the owners are issued citation tickets.

Under the law, only marked police, military, fire, ambulance and other emergency vehicles are allowed to use these accessories. However, some motorists have taken advantage of the availability of these gadgets in open markets to procure and install them on their vehicles.

The presence of police motorcycle or mobile escorts with their blinkers on and sirens blaring while weaving in and out of heavy traffic along EDSA and other busy parts of Metro Manila and the rest of the country has been a constant source of anger and disgust among ordinary motorists who really have to move out of the way to avoid confrontation with these lawmen.

Last month, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong directed the local police to report or apprehend persons using sirens, blinkers and similar gadgets illegally or without authority in the City of Pines.

The mayor wrote a memorandum to Baguio City police director, Colonel Glenn Lonogan last November 5 to strictly implement Presidential Decree 96, Series of 1970 which bans the unauthorized use of sirens, bells, horns, whistles and similar devices capable of producing loud or startling sounds as well as blinkers, dome lights and similar signaling or flashing gadgets.

PD 96 only allows the use of said devices by vehicles designated on official capacity by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Land Transportation Commission, Bureau of Fire and hospital ambulances.

“The use of said devices is allowed for official vehicles but in contemplation of emergency situations only. Henceforth, you are directed to cascade to all units to immediately report or apprehend persons who are using the same without authority or in contravention with the law,” Mayor Magalong said.

USE RECOVERED VEHICLES AND BE FIRED

Carlos also reiterated his warning to fire any police officer or men who will be found using recovered motor vehicles and motorcycles specifically those assigned in police stations and police-community precincts and district and provincial headquarters in Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

He was referring to the PNP Standard Operating Procedure No. 7 that prohibits the use of recovered evidence motor vehicles and motorcycles.

The directive applies to any policeman who deliberately keeps recovered stolen motor vehicles and motorcycles for their own personal use. They include recovered stolen vehicles, those considered Failed to Return to their registered owners or those which were stolen as a result of the notorious ‘Rent-Tangla, Rent-Tangay’ scheme,’ the so-called ‘Talon’ scheme and others which went missing or stolen but are not yet included in the alarm list of the PNP -HPG.

The PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) headed by Brigadier Gen. Oliver A. Enmodias is the main unit tasked to launch intelligence-driven operations against any police personnel who will be found violating the directive.

PNP Standard Operating Procedure No. 7 or the Revised Procedure in the Reporting and Disposition of Stolen and Recovered/Impounded Motor Vehicles was released on April 12, 2011.

Under SOP No. 7, No PNP personnel shall use a recovered-stolen or impounded motor vehicle or cause the use thereof by any person prior to the lifting of the “alarm” issued thereon and the subsequent release of said motor vehicle to its lawful owner.

The removal of any part or accessory of the recovered-stolen/impounded motor vehicle is also punishable under this measure.

Himself a former PNP-HPG director, Carlos also reiterated a previous order that any HPG officer or man who will be found using or in possession of stolen motor vehicles or giving motor vehicle clearances under the highly-fraudulent ‘non-appearance’ scheme’ will be arrested, jailed and prosecuted to the hilt.

Carlos added that administrative charges will be filed against any personnel proven guilty of illegal use of those vehicles, while his/her immediate superior will be also included in the investigation under the doctrine of “Command Responsibility”.

PNP personnel are not allowed to use private vehicles without plate number or conduction sticker number, he said.