Ejercito warns PNP-HPG of budget cuts if escorts worsen traffic for "any" VIPs

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito has called on the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) to stop contributing to worsening traffic conditions in Metro Manila.

The Senator criticized what he described as the frequent use of HPG personnel to escort politicians and other VIPs, saying that such convoys often disrupt the normal flow of vehicles, especially during peak hours, by clearing roads to let their principals pass through congested streets.

Ejercito pointed out that during rush hour, an estimated 20 to 30 VIP convoys can be seen traversing major thoroughfares across the metro, further aggravating gridlock faced by ordinary motorists.

“Imagine, around 20 to 30 convoys going around Metro Manila on a rush hour. Dapat nga nakakatulong kayo sa flow ng traffic, eh kayo pa nang-gugulo,” the visibly irked lawmaker said, lamenting what he described as the apparent unregulated use of HPG escorts for VIP movements.

The Senator also directed PBGen. Hansel Marantan, director of the PNP-HPG, to submit a complete list of personnel currently assigned to VIP escort duties.

He warned that the agency risks losing its budget allocation if its officers continue to be deployed as escorts for what he described as “just anybody,” instead of focusing on their primary mandate of traffic management and highway security.

“Kaya submit on Public Services kay Sen. Tulfo, pero ako magde-defend ng budget nyo and I will make sure ‘pag yan mga HPG ay naka-assign pa rin kung kani-kanino, tatanggalan ko kayo ng budget ‘pag hindi kayo umayos,” said Sen. Ejercito.

(You may submit to the Public Services Committee under Sen. Tulfo, but I will be the one to defend your budget, and I will make sure that if those HPG personnel are still assigned to just anyone, I will remove your budget if you do not straighten up.)

In an earlier statement with Autoindustriya.com, Ejercito said that it irks him seeing these VIPs being escorted with police motorcycles, which, in many instances, bully their way in traffic and even override traffic signals and enforcers in intersections.