PNP-CSG director to private security agencies: Don’t use banned sirens, blinkers
PHILIPPINE National Police Civil Security Group (PNP-CSG) director, Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr. has reminded all private security agencies, company guard forces, government guards, private detective agencies and all others falling into Private Security Agency category to stop using banned sirens and blinkers on their vehicles or be the subject of administrative and criminal charges.
In a memorandum to PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (PNP-SOSIA) director, Brig. Gen. Leumar U. Abugan, PNP-CSG director, directed the latter to remind all concerned security agencies of the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 69 or face the consequences of their violation.
The PNP leadership had said that it wants sirens and blinkers to be ‘the symbol of authority, not of abuse’ as it launched a crackdown on violators of PD 96.
PD 96 dated January 13, 1973 prohibits owners or possessors of any motor vehicles from using or attaching to the vehicle any siren, bell, horn, whistle or other similar gadgets that produce exceptionally loud of startling sound, including dome lights, blinkers and other similar signaling or flashing devices.
Exempted from the law are vehicles designated for official use by the Presidential Security Group (PSG), PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and hospital ambulances.
Brig. Gen. Silo said he has directed the PNP-SOSIA to coordinate with the PNP Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) their efforts to apprehend private security agency vehicles equipped with sirens and blinkers and other banned devices.
The official issued the order amid complaints that some private security agency companies are wantonly violating PD 96 by equipping their marked patrol vehicles with sirens and blinkers as they conduct their business operations inside the premises of major commercial establishments they are guarding including shopping malls, hotels, seaports and airports.
There have been complaints too that armored vehicles of private security agencies are also equipped with the banned gadgets as they go around the streets.
The official said PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. has emphasized that the rule of law must always prevail in the use of sirens, blinkers, and other emergency devices as he stressed that private vehicles including those being used by private security agencies are not allowed to use any of them.
Brig. Gen. Silo advised private security agencies with vehicles sporting sirens and blinkers and other gadgets banned under PD 96 to remove them or face charges upon apprehension. Any violation will also be a factor that will affect the registration papers of concerned security agencies for clearly violating the law and defying orders from the PNP-CSG and the PNP-SOSIA to fully comply with PD 96.
The PNP leadership has also sought the help of the LTO, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units thru their respective traffic enforcement bureaus to maximize operations against these unlawful activities in Metro Manila and the rest of the country.
PD 96 declared as unlawful the use or attachment of sirens, blinkers and other similar gadgets that emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds.
The law was enacted to bring about social order characterized by a high state of discipline and order among the citizenry and amid complaints that people have suffered and still continue to suffer as a direct result of indiscriminate and unregulated use of sirens and blinkers and similar gadgets attached to motor vehicles and used on the highways.
PD 96 states that any device or gadget installed or mounted on any motor vehicle or otherwise used in violation of the decree shall be subject to immediate confiscation and I ncases of a second and subsequent offenses, shall cause the offender to be prosecuted for violation of the law.
A convicted violator of the law shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment for six months and/or a fine of P600. In addition, the certificate of registration of the motor vehicle on which the unauthorized gadget or device is installed, mounted or used shall be canceled or revoked.
