Private vehicles beware: Mandaue police stump foot vs sirens, blinkers

The police in Mandaue City are now intensifying their campaign against the use of sirens and blinkers by private vehicles.

Supt. Emmanuel Ughoc, deputy chief for operations and head of the Mobile Patrol Unit of the Mandaue Police Command, said their campaign is in compliance with the order issued by Police Regional Office-7 chief Eduardo Gador.

Ughoc said Gador has created "Task Force Wang-Wang" which would be headed by Superintendent Abdalun Awilun, chief of the Regional Traffic Management Office-7.

Arroyo issued an order directing all government agencies to strictly comply with the January 1973 Presidential Decree No. 96 declaring unlawful and indisriminate use of sirens, blinkers or similar devices.

President Arroyo in her order explained that in order to serve as an example and encourage the general public to comply with the law, public officials and employees should take the lead in observing the law.

Only the Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire and Protection, and hospital ambulances are allowed to use sirens and blinkers.

Ughoc has asked the regional office of the Land Transportation Office to furnish his office a copy of the guidelines in the use of sirens and blinkers. - Jose P. Sollano