NAPOLCOM to issue 'indiscriminate' checkpoint guidelines

MANILA – The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) will issue a resolution on guidelines at checkpoints that are not discriminatory to the driving public, especially to motorcycle riders.

NAPOLCOM vice chairperson and Executive Officer Alberto Bernardo agreed with senators on Tuesday that other private vehicles should also be subject to scrutiny at checkpoints carried out by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"Yes, your honor. We will issue a corresponding Napolcom resolution to that effect," Bernardo said during the inquiry into the alleged abuses, killings, and human rights violations allegedly committed by PNP personnel.

"Totoo po na dapat pareho lamang. Hindi 'yung motorsiklo lang, dapat kasama din 'yung mga sedan vehicles lalo na kung may crimes committed within the vicinity at kung kelan magko-conduct po ng (It should be equal. Not only motorcycles, but also sedan vehicles, especially if there are crimes committed within the vicinity and when to conduct) checkpoints," he added.

Bernardo was responding to Senator Raffy Tulfo who filed Senate Bill No. 1977 or the Checkpoint Regularization Act seeking to regulate the establishment of checkpoints to prevent any other infringements of the constitutional rights of the riding public against unwarranted searches.

"Hopefully in the next few weeks, makakatanggap na po kami ng memorandum na 'yan and then idi-distribute po natin sa lahat ng police stations sa buong Pilipinas (we get to receive a copy of that memorandum which will be distributed to all police stations in the country)," Tulfo said.

Under the bill, guidelines for checkpoints must be "implemented uniformly for all motorists whether they are driving two, three, or four-wheeled vehicles."

Meanwhile, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa also urged Bernardo to reiterate in the resolution the observance of the "plain view doctrine" which he said gets "frequently violated" by police personnel.

"Dapat i-remind palagi sa mga pulis natin 'yung plain view doctrine. 'Yan ang palaging naba-violate at alam natin na may tama ang pulis kapag sila ang kinasuhan diyan (We should always remind our police personnel about the plain view doctrine. It is always being violated and we know that police personnel will be affected if they get charged)," dela Rosa said. (PNA)