Top cop to HPG: EDSA mission will define PNP

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ricardo Marquez on Monday morning told Highway Patrol Group (HPG) personnel to show their "best side," saying their mission to ease traffic on EDSA will define the whole police organization.

 

"Lahat ng gagawin natin sa EDSA, hindi lang magre-reflect sa each and every HPG personnel, hindi lang magre-reflect sa buong HPG. Tatagos lahat sa Philippine National Police," Marquez said during the HPG's send-off ceremony at the PNP's national headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

 

The send-off of 150 HPG men, who will be deployed in two shifts to man six major chokepoints on EDSA, started as early as 4 a.m.

 

Mobile police vehicles, including motorcycle units, were blessed during the event before being turned over to the HPG men.

 

Marquez also urged the policemen to bring back the old glory of the HPG, when it was called as "the king of EDSA."

 

The HPG was tasked by President Benigno Aquino III to ease traffic on EDSA by manning six major chokepoints on the main thoroughfare, including Balintawak, Cubao, Ortigas, Shaw Boulevard, Guadalupe and Taft Avenue.

 

Based on tweets by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), traffic in several parts of EDSA were moderate as of 10:23 a.m., including Balintawak, Muñoz, Trinoma, NIA Road to Whiteplains, Boni to Guadalupe, Buendia and Malibay to Tramo.

 

Earlier MMDA reports said parts of EDSA experience heavy traffic, particularly in Trinoma to P. Tuazon areas. A few vehicular accidents were also reported on Monday morning.

 

After the send-off ceremony, the HPG men started manning traffic on EDSA as early as 5 a.m.

 

Aside from the HPG, traffic management personnel from MMDA were also deployed on EDSA. More MMDA personnel, meanwhile, were assigned to handle traffic on C5 Road.

 

Personnel from the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportaion Franchising Regulatory Board also helped the HPG. —report from Jay Sabale/ALG, GMA News