PNP-HPG: It is easier to catch carjackers than solve traffic problem

Philippine National Police Headquarters (Wikipedia Photo)

MANILA – The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) stated that catching carnappers was easier than solving the traffic congestion in Metro Manila as pinpointing car thieves only needed surveillance while decongesting traffic needed everyone’s combined effort.

“It is easy to pinpoint the carnapping perpetrators (because) there are only a few of them. But the traffic situation? We need to convince everyone to cooperate,” PNP-HPG director Chief Supt. Arnold Gunnacao said in a press briefing.

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III yesterday deployed the policemen as the lead traffic law enforcement agency on EDSA. It was the  long-term solution to the avenue’s worsening traffic condition and the traffic law enforcers’ alleged corruption.

Backstory: Aquino deploys PNP-Highway Patrol Group on EDSA

The PNP-HPG will be working together with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in addressing other woes on EDSA.

“The whole exercise is really to make sure that we allow traffic to flow. That’s been a concern in Manila… So, all these things… we will forward it to LTFRB and MMDA  for proper guidance and action,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said, referring to the purported fees given to enforcers by colorum vehicle drivers.

Performing the same traffic management functions as MMDA, the PNP-HPG hoped that motorists and commuters cooperate to ease traffic on EDSA. The policemen have already started crash training on dealing with and controlling traffic