Cop, soldier among first HPG ‘catch’

With a policeman and a soldier among their early “catch” of traffic violators, members of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) manning Edsa have not only beefed up their ranks but also obtained wider powers to go after erring motorists.

The police unit, whose functions are traditionally centered on anti-car theft operations, has been authorized by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to confiscate driver’s licenses and issue traffic violation tickets. Earlier, the HPG only gave verbal warnings to motorists flagged down during its first week of traffic duty on Edsa, which started on Sept. 7.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, the HPG deputy director for administration, Senior Supt. Sheldon Jacaban, said among the first 15 motorists to be apprehended and issued tickets on Tuesday were an Army sergeant and a policeman.

The military man was cited for illegally changing lanes while the lawman—a senior police officer 4—turned out to be the owner of an illegally parked vehicle, he said. The policeman’s vehicle was also impounded.

All the 15 violators were encountered by an HPG team led by Jacaban himself at the Edsa-Santolan intersection. “We will implement traffic rules and regulations regardless of who violates them,” he said, noting that the violators were caught within a period of one and a half hours.

Most of the cases involved lane change violations. “If you see a solid line separating lanes, [that means] no overtaking,” HPG spokesman Supt. Oliver Tanseco explained.

Jacaban also announced that from an initial HPG force of 130, the total deployment on Edsa as of this week had been raised to more than 200. The number includes 20 members of the elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police.

“Everyone working (in our offices) is now on patrol. Even those with administrative functions are contributing,” he said. “Take note: Our personnel can now issue the LTO temporary operators permit. That means we are authorized deputies of the LTO; we will confiscate licenses.”

The permit serves as a temporary license valid for 72 hours, within which the erring driver must pay the fine.

The HPG officials gave the updates as the unit—which is apparently enjoying an unprecedented level of popularity—formally received more donations from the private sector in view of its Herculean task of easing the daily traffic gridlock on Edsa.

The latest donors were the companies RiteMed, Dermplus and KServico, as well as the Philippine Dermatological Society, which handed over a three-month supply of sunblock lotion and vitamin supplements to the HPG.

On Tuesday, the HPG received skin care products from celebrity dermatologist Vicki Belo.

As gifts poured in for his men, Jacaban aired a request: That their “partners” on Edsa, mainly the traffic marshals of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and policemen under local government units, get some freebies, too.