Return of secret marhsals in PUVs pushed

MANILA, Philippines - Lawmakers have proposed to revive the deployment of secret marshals to run after the criminals who are victimizing people in public utility vehicles in the country.

Buhay Party-List Reps. Mariano Velarde, Jr., Jose Atienza, Jr. and Irwin Tieng authored House Bill 3150, which asks the Philippine National Police (PNP) to deploy police marshals in all buses and other public utility vehicles nationwide to neutralize criminal elements.

“The police marshals shall be tasked to maintain peace and order while on duty and shall ensure that the drivers of buses or utility vehicles are following the traffic rules,” Velarde said.

Velarde said the deployment of secret marshals would help promote the safety of the riding public.

“With a marshal on board the public utility vehicles, petty crooks thinking twice, terror plots derailed and reckless drivers disciplined are just a few of the consequences surely welcomed by the riding public,” Velarde said.

Velarde said police personnel would be required to wear civilian clothes while on duty.

The bill mandates the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to submit to the PNP an inventory of the public utility vehicles operating in the country.

Likewise, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of the proposed act.