PNP ‘keen’ on running after ‘colorum’ vehicles

MANILA, Philippines—Policemen may soon be fanned out to help the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Land Transportation Office run after “colorum” (unlicensed public utility) vehicles.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., Philippine National Police spokesman, on Tuesday bared their proposal to the MMDA and LTO on possible joint operations against colorum vehicles plying the streets of Metro Manila.

He said that PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome had directed National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Alan Purisima to closely coordinate with the said agencies for a “stronger tri-agency effort against colorum public transportation providers.”

Through such an effort, even retired and active police and military officers driving colorum vehicles would be nabbed, possibly by one of their own, added Cruz.

The directive came after Bartolome received reports of several off-duty police and military officers moonlighting as drivers of colorum vehicles in the metropolis. “Although the PNP chief sees no harm in trying to augment their income through such ways, he believes that it is wrong for them to use illegal vehicles or bring firearms [outside their duties],” said the police spokesman.

Cruz revealed that administrative and criminal charges await police and military personnel who would be caught driving colorum vehicles. He said that they encourage their officers to engage in business ventures, but that they should be lawful and not in conflict with existing government administrative policies.

He stressed that government time and resources must not be used in personal business transactions.