ICPO probes DAR convoy over red-light incident

ILOILO CITY — A delay in communication between police and traffic authorities may have led to a Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) VIP convoy passing through a red light at Taft North in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, an initial police investigation showed.

The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) said it had coordinated with the Iloilo City Traffic and Transportation Management Office (ICTTMO) regarding the passage of VIPs on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 6.

The DAR officials had attended a ceremonial mass land title distribution at the Iloilo National High School gymnasium in La Paz, Iloilo City.

DAR Region 6 sent a formal letter to Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) last month informing authorities of the activity and requesting security and other arrangements.

PRO-6 tasked the ICPO with making the necessary security preparations, including traffic arrangements for the VIPs.

Col. Wilbert Parilla, ICPO director, said police were assigned to provide security and motorcycle escorts for the convoy.

“We are to provide VIP security and motorcycle escorts for them to ease through the traffic,” he said.

Police said facilitating the passage of VIP convoys through special escorts or traffic management is practiced under certain circumstances but remains subject to established rules and procedures.

Parilla said the ICPO informed the ICTTMO of the convoy’s route and requested assistance in facilitating its passage.

The ICTTMO approved the arrangement, he said.

The DAR activity ended later than projected, while the VIPs were reportedly rushing to catch a flight.

“Aside from na late na, napaka-traffic. May advise ang DAR na bilisan kasi nga may hinahabol na flight. Ang hatak (motorcycle cops), nag-advised sa ICPO Tactical Operations Center about the arrangement,” he said.

The ICPO Tactical Operations Center then informed the ICTTMO to shift to manual traffic management along the convoy’s route.

Under the arrangement, traffic enforcers were expected to manually direct traffic instead of relying solely on traffic signals.

Parilla said the short distance between the event venue and the area where the incident occurred contributed to the delayed communication.

“Dahil malapit lang ang venue and the area where it happened, na late ang pag inform. Although the traffic managed to assist the VIPs to pass through but they weren’t able to make necessary adjustments to the traffic light,” he said.

Police said the traffic signal still had about 80 seconds remaining on red when the convoy passed through the intersection.

The motorcycle escorts were personnel of the ICPO Traffic Enforcement Unit, while the van and its driver were arranged by DAR.

Following the incident, Parilla said he instructed motorcycle escort personnel to obey traffic signals even when prior coordination for a convoy had been made.

“Kung makita na stop, they have to stop,” he said.

The two Traffic Enforcement Unit personnel involved were given stern warnings.

Parilla said the ICPO would also submit a report on the incident to Land Transportation Office Region 6 for review.