WATCH: Tolentino’s camp use ‘wang-wang’ after Bulacan campaign
Credit to Author: ggaviola| Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2019 16:31:51 +0000
Wang-wang?(1/2) In this video, police mobiles escorting cars with senatorial aspirant Francis Tolentino stickers were seen using sirens shortly after a PDP-Laban campaign event in SJDM, Bulacan. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/EZfRfz7HAE
— Darryl John Esguerra (@DJEsguerraINQ) February 14, 2019
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, Philippines – Amid the “no wang-wang (siren)” policy, the camp of former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino, who is running for senator in the May elections, was seen surrounded by police mobiles with wailing sirens on Thursday.
Tolentino’s camp came from the campaign sortie of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) here when it was spotted by the INQUIRER.net team with the police convoy.
President Benigno Aquino III banned the use of sirens, except for authorized personnel in police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances.
In May 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte said the policy will stay.
But are police mobiles allowed to use sirens in escorting politicians?
Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said no.
“No. Blinkers lang pwede (Only blinkers are allowed),” he told INQUIRER.net.
PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Bernard Banac said sirens may only be used by the police in specific circumstances.
“Hindi ko lang masabi (I just cannot say) what exactly were the circumstances that may have prompted the concerned traffic personnel to use siren,” he said.
INQUIRER.net tried to contact Tolentino and Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna, director of the Bulacan Provincial Police Office, but they have not yet replied as of this posting. /gsg