PNP taps Highway Patrol Group to make sure cargoes are delivered

April 3, 2020

The Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CV Shield) on Friday said they tapped the Philippine National Police (PNP)- Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in securing cargoes travelling along major thoroughfares in Luzon where the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) is in place.

Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, JTF CV Shield commander, said the decision to deploy HPG personnel was approved by PNP chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa to ensure delivery of cargoes of food and other basic needs amid the strict implementation of quarantine rules.

Based on the JTF CV Shield plan, the PNP-HPG will set up dedicated control points or DCPs on provincial boundaries and other strategic areas where cargo vehicles usually travel.

Eleazar said DCPs could be set up in the existing Quarantine Control Points or QCPs but once it is done, the QCPS will be converted to DCPs and will be supervised by HPG personnel.

Established DCPs will exempt all vehicles carrying cargoes like trucks, vans, pick-up and jeepneys from being flagged down or checked at the QCPs.

“The objective here is to ensure that deliveries of food and other basic goods are not subjected to unnecessary and redundant inspections which are the usual reason of the delay,” he said.

Eleazar said the inspection of cargo vehicles will only be done at the DCPs, and only if necessary.

“HPG units were also given the leeway to set up DCPs in areas which they deem strategic, it does not necessarily mean that the DCPs will only be set up on provincial boundaries,” Eleazar said.

“But what is important is this rule: Cargo vehicles will only be inspected at HPG-manned and HPG-supervised Dedicated Control Points, and inspection will only be done if necessary. These cargo vehicles must not be flagged down or inspected at the QCPs,” he added.

The DCPs will only be set up in Luzon but he said this will be expanded in the Visayas and Mindanao as soon as possible.

Eleazar said Gamboa instructed all leaders of the HPG teams who will man the DCPs to coordinate with local commanders, especially with the provincial directors, to establish clear guidelines.

Coordination with the NCRPO was also ordered for all cargo vehicles entering or passing Metro Manila.

“We understand that HPG units have limited personnel. That is why our Chief PNP said that the HPG team leaders can also request for augmentation from local police units in manning the Dedicated Control Points,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS