Cops warned against on-road parking

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has responded.

Following reports of police officers haphazardly parking their vehicles on public roads, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, issued a memorandum directing all PRO-6 personnel to follow parking rules.

The memorandum with the subject: “Prohibition to Park on Public Roads” and dated March 5, complied with the Command Guidance and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memo Circular 2020-027.

Under DILG Memo 2020-027, all LGUs are ordered to remove obstructions in all provincial, city, municipal and barangay roads. It was defined that road clearing shall mean the removal of illegal or unauthorized road obstruction along the road right-of-way, which encompasses the entire width of the road carriageway, including travel way for motor vehicles and road shoulders, and sidewalks.

“As police officers, we’re not exempted in following traffic regulations. Thus, we’re not immune to illegal parking rules and guidelines,” Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said.

The order was also in response to concern by members of the Liga ng Mga Barangay claiming they can’t reprimand all those who illegally park.

Sangguniang Panlungsod ex-officio member Irene Ong, president of the Liga ng mga Barangays in Iloilo City, admitted that they have a problem in curbing illegal parking since village heads are not deputized by the Land Transportation Office.

Ong particularly pointed to Barangay Veterans Village in City Proper district, Iloilo City where a good number of those who illegally park are policemen.

In response to Ong’s apprehensions, Pamuspusan, PRO6 director said that as police officers, they have to comply with policies.

“Tayo dapat ang unang sumunod sa mga ipinapatupad ng DILG,” Pamuspusan said emphasizing that policemen are not exempted from this policy.

He also encouraged barangay officials and traffic enforcers to issue citation tickets to PNP personnel if they commit violations.

The region’s top cop also assured of their full cooperation on the matter.

“Personnel who refuse to follow the directive on road clearing could be administratively charged,” Pamuspusan said.

Recently, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas Monday warned village officials that they would be charged if they would not heed the mandatory road clearing order.