Cops to restore discipline on EDSA, PNP chief says

Recalling the time when tall traffic policemen exacted discipline from motorists on Metro Manila's streets, the leadership of the Philippine National Police is looking forward to implementing its most recent task of restoring order on EDSA.

PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said the public's expectation from the Highway Patrol Group is already high following President Benigno Aquino III's directive ordering the HPG to take care of traffic enforcement in at least six choke points.

"Nung unang panahon, may nakatindig dyan na malaking lalaki sa crossing dyan and everybody behaves so some of those who attended the meeting yesterday reminisce those days na baka pwedeng ibalik yung mga nakaboots, malalaking tao," Marquez told reporters.

The PNP chief was apparently referring to the top-level inter-agency meeting that tackled the problem of traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

"Kahit na ikaw ay police officer huhulihin ka.... Big guy, big bike. So gusto nating irestore yung road discipline sa EDSA," Marquez said.

"Law enforcement will play a very, very big part so we are going to make sure that the intersectiion is not occupied and we're going to make sure that no counterflow will happen. We're going to enforce the yellow bus lane and today, tomorrow thursday and friday, we're going to establish some base figure," he added.

No ifs, no buts

Chief Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, the HPG director, said on Wednesday they will implement road rules strictly to decongest the choke points.

“Kaya ang gagawin natin, no ifs no buts, walang kung sino sino, basta may violation.... No negotiation on the street, walang ayusan basta pag may violation bigyan ng ticket pag nabigyan na alis na, pag nagreklamo punta ka sa opisina,”  Gunnacao said.

“The 96 will be divided into shifts though it's not a 24-hour duty kasi pagdating ng madaling araw walang traffic so basically yung rush hour lang ang binabantayan natin at yun lang nakadeploy sa kanila and bawat choke point, may nakatalaga na eight personnel per checkpoint per shift,” he added.

Gunnacao also said the PNP personnel will mostly be a support unit to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in terms of ticketing violators.

“Ang halos trabaho lang ng HPG is to assist traffic, to control and manage traffic then 'yung violators, may mga HPG na huhuli and 'yung MMDA, sila mangti-ticket,” he said.

Gunnacao said the challenge for their part would be to ensure that EDSA motorists would abide by road rules like they were in Subic where traffic enforcers are strict.

“Unang una is how to convince our drivers to cooperate kasi maraming driver na matigas ang ulo but then from what I really believe, pag iniimplement ang batas, sumusunod yan pag nasa economic zones,” he said.

Armed with handguns

Superintendent Oliver Tanseco, the spokesman of the HPG, said the police officers that will be deployed on EDSA will be armed with handguns.

Tanseco said the 96 policemen also have anti-crime responsibilities aside from managing traffic.

"Siguro po 'pag ikaw ay isang carnapper, ikaw ay matigas ang ulo ay matakot ka po. Pero kung ikaw ay motoristang sumusunod sa batas trapiko ay ikaw ay ngingitian ka namin," the police spokesman said in an interview on radio dzBB.

He added: "Matagal na naming trabaho ang traffic direction and control. Ngayon iba na ang panghuhuli, ang mga pulis ay professionals po iyan, mga college graduate po iyan."

He said the HPG men will start the apprehension of traffic violators on EDSA by Monday.

Tanseco, meanwhile, assured that the PNP leadership will immediately act on reports of abuse by the traffic policemen.

"Ang mga magrereklamo kahit di magpakilala ay inaaksyunan ng chief, PNP. Sayang ang ating nasimulan kung papayag tayo na bumalik sa dati," he said, referring to the "kotong cop" image of traffic policemen before they were replaced by traffic enforcers from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

He also cited that policemen are now receiving better salaries and allowances.

"Okay na po ang aming allowance at suweldo. Napakaliit na ng dahilan para tayo ay mang-abuso pa," he said. -with a report from Andrei Medina/NB, GMA News