Mayor Co irked on siren confiscation

Pagadian City – City Mayor Samuel Co has expressed disgust over the alleged confiscation of a blaring siren by the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) as “disrespectful.”

During a recent media conference, Co narrated that the city’s gray Mitsubishi Strada pickup with plate number FGZ 424, driven by Jigger Ordoño, was bound for Ozamiz City when elements of the highway patrol flagged down the vehicle along Tawagan Sur highway, inspected it and confiscated its siren last July 10.

The mayor, who was in Manila during the incident, said he had instructed his driver to remove the gadget days after the “no wang-wang policy” broke out. The driver did not comply.

Mayor Co is contemplating to file charges against the involved patrol officers on grounds of violation of rights.

“You cannot just search any vehicle without a search warrant because that is a violation of human right,” Co claimed, adding that the routine inspection was not even coordinated with his office.

He warned he would “demonstrate his power” by filing charges against those who violated his rights and against those HPG members involved.

At presstime, the patrol group could not be reached for comment. But some quarters believe the officers only did their job.

Meanwhile, the media has repeatedly reported that the ban on using blaring sirens or “wang-wangs” has displeased some other public officials and other VIP’s.

The affected local chief executives claim in unison they should not be totally banned from using sirens to squeeze their way out of heavy traffic. They justified that using blaring sirens to get out of traffic enables them to respond to emergencies as quick as possible.

In his inaugural address, Pres. Noynoy Aquino swore he would not use blaring sirens that are sometimes used by public officials to counterflow traffic. On the other hand, Vice-Pres. Jejomar Binay did not buy the idea. 

He stressed that the use of siren is necessary to hasten response to emergencies like hostage-taking and shootouts.

However, some quarters opined that what is wrong with sirens is that when they are used just to show off or when the public officials are late on personal appointments.

Presidential Decree No. 96 declares the use or attachment of sirens, bells, horns, whistles or similar gadgets that emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds, including domelights, blinkers and other flashing devices on motor vehicles unlawful.

Under the Decree, which was signed by former Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos on January 13, 1973, the gadgets or devices mentioned above may be attached to and use only on motor vehicles designated for official use by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Land Transportation Commission, Police Departments, Fire Departments and hospital ambulances.

P.D. 96 is silent whether to allow vehicles of the President, the Vice-President and the Supreme Court Justice to use the blaring sirens.