PNP chief to cops: Arrest all disobedient PUV drivers, impound their vehicles

MANILA, Philippines — Police officers will apprehend disobedient drivers and, if necessary, impound their public utility vehicles (PUVs) for operating despite the ordered suspension of all public transport modes during the enhanced community quarantine, Philippine National Police (PNP) warned Tuesday.

“Sinabi ko kanina, highly specific na hulihin niyo lahat. Kung kailangan iimpound natin so that the people will see na really that we will enforce the law,” PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa told CNN Philippines.

(As I have said earlier, highly specific to arrest all those PUV drivers still operating. If you need to, then impound their vehicles so that people will really see that we will enforce the law.)

Gamboa said they will also ask the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to create an order that will be the basis in filing a case against drivers, operators of PUVs that will be found plying the streets while the suspension order is in effect.

The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) has stopped PUVs plying the streets for violating the enhanced community quarantine. INQUIRER.net photo / Tetch Torres-Tupas

“The LTFRB should really come up with a clear order that all are suspended so that pag-na-apprehend, it is not only the ticket of the Land Transportation Office they are going to take. They are also going to take administrative charges on the part of their franchise,” Gamboa said, noting that he will propose this during the government’s task force meeting.

(The LTFRB should really come up with a clear order that all are suspended so that when we apprehend the drivers, it is not only the ticket of the Land Transportation Office they are going to take. They are also going to take administrative charges on the part of their franchise.)

The entire Luzon island was placed under enhanced community quarantine after the surge of COVID-19 cases in the country, which is now at 142, including 12 fatalities.

Edited by JPV