Cops driving bikes sans helmets face sanctions

Because of several complaints against policemen not wearing crash helmets while driving motorcycles, who in turn are quick to apprehend civilians driving motorcycles bare-headed, Cebu City Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador yesterday ordered an operation against such policemen.

Comendador told reporters that policemen apprehended for driving motorcycles without helmets will be issued citation tickets and face an administrative charge for not following directives of the PNP regarding the wearing of safety helmets.

He said he himself saw some policemen assigned to the CCPO who do not wear helmets when they drive motorcycles.  And they are often in General Office Attire uniforms complete with their nameplates and identification cards.

Comendador yesterday called on motorcycle patrolmen led by SPO1 Junivan Villanueva to apprehend bare-headed policemen on motorcycles.

“Unahon nato ang atong mga polis, we are now zeroing our target against policemen because of the several complaints nga atong nadawat ug bisan na gani ko nakasugat gyud ana,” Comendador said.

It has also been observed during police checkpoints that while checkpoint personnel apprehend and issued citation tickets against civilians without helmets, policemen driving motorcycles without helmets are ignored and allowed to pass unhindered. 

As of yesterday afternoon, Villanueva said five policemen have already been issued citation tickets for the violation.  Four of them are from CCPO.

“Pirmero mopalag gyud, moreklamo,” he said.

“Kuyawa gud nimo, mangunay man ka’g dakop,” he quoted one of them as saying.  — Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP