Senator Francis Tolentino (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)
MANILA – Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Friday urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to establish specific guidelines on unauthorized usage of vehicle stickers and markings.
The lawmaker made the appeal after two of his escorts from the Metro Manila Development Authority were arrested by the PNP Highway Patrol Group in Parañaque City on Wednesday for having "police" and "Master Rider's Badge" markings on their motorcycles.
In his regular radio program, Tolentino questioned the basis for the arrest since no guidelines are currently in place.
"They were charged with Usurpation of Authority, yet they never impersonated police officers. Secondly, they were charged with improper use of stickers, but there is no law prohibiting the use of stickers. Perhaps insignias, but the stickers weren't even on their uniforms," he told PNP Spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo.
The Department of Justice, Tolentino said, dropped the charges "due to insufficient evidence."
He stressed that no laws were violated as the MMDA owned the motorcycles with the markings.
"Dapat po siguro dito sa inyong mga guidelines, i-brief niyo nang maigi ang inyong mga tauhan kasi baka sila ang makasuhan Ma’am (Perhaps in your guidelines, you should brief your people thoroughly because they might be the ones to be charged before the courts, Ma’am)," Tolentino said.
Fajardo confirmed that they are just finalizing the detailed guidelines that the PNP Directorate for Operations is set to issue next week.
She also assured that Tolentino's concerns were all noted and will be brought to the PNP leadership.
Apologies
In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Fajardo apologized to Tolentino and clarified that she did not intend to drag him to the issue.
The PNP official, however, said she was briefed by HPG chief Brig. Gen. Jay Cumigad on the basis of the two MMDA personnel’s apprehension.
“They were flagged down because nakita yung police markings doon sa motor shield nung dalawang MMDA at maging doon sa gilid nung (the police markings were seen in the motorshield of the two MMDA personnel and even at the side of the) top box. Makikita niyo, merong box doon sa likod at sa gilid at may nakalagay na markings na ‘Pulis’ at meron din doon na nakalagay na stickers din ng mga (You will see, there is a box at the rear and on the side with ‘Pulis’ markings and there are also stickers there bearing the words) ‘master riders’, “ she added.
Fajardo also said the HPG has deemed it proper to charge the suspects for violation of Article 177 (usurpation of authority) and Article 179 (illegal use of uniforms of insignia) of the Revised Penal Code based on these pieces of evidence.
“Hindi naman natin masasabi na insufficient ang ebidensya but pinapa-clear ng prosecutor kaya binibigyan din ng pagkakataon yung HPG to support yung kasong isinampa sa kanila dahil nga ang naging basehan nga nila, yung sticker (We cannot really say that the evidence was insufficient but the prosecutor wanted it to be cleared so the HPG would be given a chance to support the case they filed because they considered the sticker as their basis),” she added. (with Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
