By Aaron Recuenco
Director General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has revised the protocol in the maintenance of police patrol cars as hundreds of vehicles procured and donated to the police would usually end up as useless in just a few years.
Instead of the usual policy that the police car or motorcycle is named to the unit where they are donated, Albayalde said the current policy is to name them to the policemen that would be designated as the vehicle’s official drivers or riders.
“The vehicles are being issued to the policemen who is duly-authorized by the commander as the drivers of a particular motor vehicle. In this way, we would be able to monitor and identify the persons responsible for even a minor dent,” said Albayalde.
Unlike before when it is usually difficult to pinpoint who among the policemen are responsible for misuse and accidents of the police cars, Albayalde said the official drivers have the obligation to ensure that the car is well-maintained.
“So now there is accountability,” said Albayalde.
The Chief PNP made the statement after the South Korean government donated yesterday 130 patrol vehicles to the PNP — 49 units of Hyundai Elantra and 81 units of Hyundai Starex van.
“This will be used to boost anti-criminality and criminal investigation efforts of the PNP,” said Albayalde.
Korean Ambassador H.E Han Dong-Man and Commissioner General of Korea National Police Agency Lee Chul-Sung were present during the turnover presided by Albayalde.
The Chief PNP said the patrol vehicles will be distributed to the Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management, Criminal Investigation and Detective Group, Anti-Kidnapping Group, Anti-Cybercrime Group, and National Capital Region Police.
He added that these patrol cars will be distributed also to Office and City Police Offices of Angeles, Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Davao and Baguio to bolster anti-criminality and police visibility efforts where Korean communities are established.
In return, Albayalde said that the Korean government is seeking for the solution of crimes involving its citizens, the recent cases were on Cebu and Caloocan cities.
“We assured them that we will do everything to solve these cases and of course, we assured them that we will take care of the equipment that they donated to us,” said Albayalde.
