700 motorcycle cops to be fielded to aid tourists

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Monday said around 700 motorcycle units will be deployed to provide security for foreign tourists visiting the country in the coming months, particularly in key tourist spots.

“For this month of March, we will be beefing up the mobility capability of our units with the issuance or distribution of 700 motorcycles. We will be targeting our tourist areas… Tinitignan natin yung creation ng tourist police units baka pwede natin i-improve kasi masasayang yung 700 units kapag hindi natin nautilize properly," Nartatez told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

The top cop said the PNP is tasked under Section 100 of Republic Act No. 9593, or the Tourism Act of 2009, to establish security forces and police assistance desks in areas of high tourism traffic. The law also requires the Department of Tourism to coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to train PNP personnel in cultural sensitivity, languages, and relevant laws.

In the same briefing, Nartatez defended the PNP-Highway Patrol Group (HPG) for providing motorcycle escorts to VIPs in transit across Metro Manila.

“Alangan naman ang ating president, ang ating vice president, ang ating chief justice, ang ating speaker and the Senate president, hindi natin bibigyan ng motorcycle escorts. The point is, kapag kailangan natin ng motorcycle escorts, then mag-escort,” he said, responding to criticism from Senate Public Order Committee Chair Sen. JV Ejercito.

Nartatez added that the PNP and HPG coordinate with the Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and local government traffic enforcers for VIP convoys.

“We have certain rules especially in the utilization of Highway Patrol or police motorcycle escorts including security escorts na nasa front or likod ng sasakyan. We also have rules, procedures in the usage of sirens and blinkers, so nandiyan yan,” he noted.

Ejercito has urged the PNP-HPG to stop contributing to Metro Manila traffic congestion, criticizing the frequent use of personnel to escort politicians and VIPs, which he said disrupts normal traffic flow, especially during peak hours.