ALL vehicles that entered the headquarters of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) at Camp Sotero Cabahug, the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) at Camp General Arcadio M. Maxilom and the Police Regional Office 7 at Camp Sergio Osmeña on Thursday, June 27, 2019, were inspected by personnel of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) 7, regardless if these were civilian or patrol cars.
Five police officers were found to be carrying expired driver’s licenses or driving an unregistered vehicle and were issued temporary operator’s permits (TOPs).
The operation was part of the PRO 7’s internal cleansing program to go after police personnel who violate simple traffic rules.
HPG 7 personnel stationed themselves at the gate of Camp Sotero Cabahug on Gorordo Ave. in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City past 8 a.m. Thursday.
They stopped all vehicles that entered the camp and asked to see the drivers’ license and the vehicles’ registration.
According to Capt. Saturnino Sedico, HPG Metro Cebu head, they were only following the order of Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas.
Two police officers assigned at the CCPO were issued TOPs and had their licenses confiscated after it was discovered that these had expired. Three civilians were also issued TOPs for not wearing shoes while driving a motorcycle.
Sedico said the purpose of the simultaneous inspections was to make sure that police officers followed the very rules they enforced.
“Unang-una (First of all), bago tayo mag-enforce ng batas (before we enforce the law), of course, we, the PNP, should be a model,” Sedico said.
Agustin Lloveras was on his way to the PNP hospital for a doctor’s consultation when he was stopped and had his driver’s license taken because he was wearing slippers while driving his motorcycle.
Lloveras said he didn’t wear shoes because of a swollen ingrown toenail and he didn’t want to aggravate it further. However, he said he would pay the fine since he was in the wrong.
“Pero unsaon ta man nga bawal man gyud magtsinelas (But what can I do when the wearing of slippers is really not allowed)?” Lloveras lamented.
Sedico reminded the public that the law clearly prohibits the wearing of slippers while driving motorcycles, whether these are private or public.
Meanwhile, three police officers assigned at the CPPO were also issued TOPs for driving with an expired license or for driving an unregistered vehicle.
Capt. Mike Gingoyon of HPG Cebu Province said they impounded the two motorcycles that didn’t have any registration.
Aside from paying the Land Transportation Office 7 penalties, the five police officers who were issued a TOP may also face administrative charges. (From AYB of SuperBalita Cebu, PJB)