Police asks public to report vehicles illegally using siren through text messaging

By Ronron
October 15, 2007

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday asked the public to report to them vehicles that they find are illegally using sirens.

PNP Traffic Management Group (TMG) Director Chief Supt. Perfecto Palad said the public can report to the police by texting 09283982873.

“Please text the location of the vehicle, its type and other details so we can immediately respond and apprehend the owner of that vehicle,” Palad told reporters yesterday at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Under Presidential Decree 96, only uniform police and military cars, ambulance, fire vehicles, the Presidential car, and the cars of the Senate President and the House Speaker are allowed to use sirens and blinkers, said TMG National Capital Region (NCR) chief Sr. Supt. Arnold Gunnacao.

Violators of said law may be imprisoned for six years and fined with P600.00, he said.

Palad bared that during the trial period last week, the TMG received 280 reports from the public that resulted in the apprehension of two vehicles, one of which was being driven by an alleged Filipina wife of a a Japanese national.

An initial report identified the suspect as a certain Johnalyn Ogushi, a resident of Las Pinas Royale Estate in Las Pinas City. Ogushi was caught last October 9 along Nacam Road in Pulang Lupa II, Las Pinas City driving an unspecified vehicle with plate number ZHD-771.

Gunnacao said police just confiscated the siren and booster from Ogushi’s car, being a first-time violator.

Gunnacao explained that illegal users of sirens have to be apprehended because they deceive other motorists into believing that they are officials or are in an emergency situation.

“We are doing this in compliance with the directive of our chief PNP, Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr., to step up our campaign against illegal users of sirens and boosters,” Palad said.

He only appealed that the people do not abuse or misuse the said text messaging program so that their operations will not be bungled or affected./DMS