BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) explained the conduct of police checkpoints in the different parts of the city any time of the day is part of the pre-emptive measures being undertaken by the local police force to make sure that lawless elements will not take actions that will compromise the peaceful and orderly situation of the country’s undisputed Summer Capital.
Senior Superintendent Ramil L. Saculles, BCPO City Director, expressed disappointment over the negative comments being hurled against them in the conduct of the police checkpoint operations wherein the police personnel manning the checkpoints are being accused of allegedly singling out motorcycles, saying that such perceptions are untrue, baseless and unfair to the policemen who are just doing their assigned duties and responsibilities.
“We are conducting checkpoints in strategic areas in the city to deter lawless elements from creating trouble and disrupt the peace and order situation of the city. We are not singling out motorcycle riders in our checkpoint operations,” Saculles stressed.
The BCPO official underscored it is just unfortunate that motorcycles have visible violations like no license plate numbers and no driver’s license for those on board that is why police officers manning the checkpoints can easily apprehend them.
For other vehicles, Saculles noted that it is difficult for the police personnel to detect the violations of motorists because what is only allowed is plain view search.
The police officer appealed to the public to cooperate with the police personnel at the checkpoints in the different parts of the city as such police activities strengthen peace and order efforts and thwart criminal intents of lawless elements to create trouble in the city.
According to him, the conduct of mobile and stationary police checkpoints around the areas of jurisdiction of police units is a marching order of no less than President Rodrigo R. Duterte to ensure that diversionary tactics of terrorists outside Mindanao could be prevented and to make sure that the city will remain a safe place to work, study, live and do business.
He assured the public that the police personnel at the different checkpoints have been trained to uphold the interest of the public at all times and that they will strictly enforce the law without fear or favour.
Saculles pointed out the mobile and stationary checkpoints that have been and will be established in the different parts of the city are in accordance with the prescribed guidelines from higher authorities to prevent complaints from the public that the checkpoints are done to sow fear among the residents which is not the case.
He urged the public to report to the nearest police stations any doubtful activities of suspicious-looking individuals in their barangays so they can immediately respond with the appropriate evaluation and validation by the policemen on the ground for further needed action by the concerned authorities.
By Dexter A. See