Crackdown nets 1,707 blinkers

MANILA, Philippines — At least 1,707 sirens, blinkers and similar signaling or flashing devices have been confiscated by the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in the past month.

Data from the HPG showed that 300 of the seized items were blinkers while 11 were sirens.

HPG director Brig. Gen. Alan Nazarro said a majority of the illegal attachments were LED lamps at 957; fog lights, 179; modified mufflers, 134; horns, 78, and strobe lights, 48.

At least 219 blinkers and other signaling or flashing devices were seized by police on the first day of the implementation of
 President Marcos’ anti-wang wang policy for government officials.

Col. Joel Casupanan, who heads the HPG’s special operations division, noted that the items were confiscated from March 25 to April 22 in their implementation of Presidential Decree 96 that prohibits the use of sirens, blinkers, horns and other gadgets to get through traffic ahead of other motorists.

“The policy has just been intensified during this time that the President issued an order that even government officials would be prohibited from using attachments, accessories and flashing devices in their private vehicles,” Casupanan told reporters.

The top three regions with the most number of confiscated illegal vehicle attachments are Calabarzon, Davao and Caraga, according to the HPG data.

Casupanan did not give details, but said that some of the vehicles belong to government employees, while the rest are from civilians.

Motorists who are caught violating the policy must surrender to law enforcement authorities the illegal attachments on their vehicles.

Second offenders shall face criminal complaints and could face fines and imprisonment of up to six months, according to Casupanan.

“We are implementing the policy fair and square. We are not exempting anyone in the implementation of the law,” he said.