PNP-HPG launches ‘Oplan Tokhang’ vs motorists with ‘wang-wang’

Motorists fond of using “wang-wang” (flashers and sirens) in their vehicles may soon be the subject of “Oplan Tokhang” as the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) launched on Friday a stricter campaign against such devices.

The HPG officially launched the “Oplan Tokhang versus Wang-wang” in a bid to eliminate the illegal use of sirens and other such devices in vehicles.

HPG Director Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal said under the program, authorities will immediately apprehend motorists using such devices.

The public  may also call the HPG’s hotline ‎7444-474 to report sightings of vehicles using flashers and sirens. The report will then be verified by the HPG with help from the Land Transportation Office.

Once the complaint has been verified, the HPG will then visit the vehicle owner’s house to ask them to surrender the flasher or siren.

“Or if not, aabangan namin sila sa labas, at paglabas (nila) we will apprehend,” Escobal said. (Or if not, we will wait for them outside and apprehend them.)

“Better na tanggalin na nila (They better remove it) so they would not be inconvenienced anymore,” he added.

The use of sirens, bells, as well as domelights and other signaling devices that emit disruptive sounds and blinding lights are prohibited under Presidential Decree No. 96.

Last March, the HPG destroyed thousands of confiscated illegal devices under its Oplan Disiplinadong Driver (Disciplined Driver).     /muf