MANILA -  President Aquino yesterday wondered during a briefing by various government agencies on the country’s preparations for the Holy Week activities why tourist police weren’t visible in the streets of Manila.

The President told former National Capital Regional Police Office chief Director Leocadio Santiago Jr., now chief of the Philippine National Police-Directorate for Operations (PNP-DO), that he and his convoy had passed by Rizal Park in Manila twice already and saw the outpost of the tourist police empty.

Aquino warned that next time he would pass by and “nobody’s present,” there must be people who would be “relieved.”

The tourist police were deployed after the Aug. 23 hostage crisis, where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed after the negotiations and rescue operations failed.

Santiago was relieved from NCRPO last Oct. 15 for command responsibility and has been on floating status until his appointment as chief of the PNP-DO.

Santiago returned to service after completing his 11-day suspension from March 4 to 14 for the bungled hostage crisis.

During the briefing, the President also questioned the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) how they could ensure that there would be no more overloading in commercial vessels when there were no Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel to check the passengers, but only barangay officials were on duty.

It turned out that the DOTC only made arrangements with barangays to monitor the vessels in the areas without PCG personnel, especially for small boats.

The President told new PCG commander Vice Admiral Ramon Liwag to make sure to turn away passengers, even if they would beg to be accommodated, if vessels are already full.

Liwag said they had told people they could be jailed for allowing overloading.

The President asked whether there was a binding agreement between the DOTC and the barangay officials for them to fill in the role of the PCG, but department representatives were not able to give a definitive answer.

P-Noy peeved with road mishaps

Aquino also said he was “peeved” with road accidents blamed on drivers.

He said authorities must not only check the roadworthiness of the vehicles but also the condition of the drivers.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said there must be two drivers for every bus that would travel to far destinations, especially at night.

Aquino said officials must check whether such rule was already a law and if not, the executive would ask the legislature to pass one.

The President quizzed DOTC Office of Transportation Security director general Lucas Cauton as to how they could check whether the drivers were fit for the long trips.

Aquino said there must no longer be reports of failure of brakes, buses falling into ravines and similar incidents.

Cauton said sometimes the major causes of accidents were the drivers, and the President told them to enforce “more thoroughness and strictness” as far as monitoring roadworthiness of vehicles and drivers.

The DOTC said it had some personnel to monitor the conditions of the drivers but the President said “that ‘some’ does not give me confidence.”

Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus said there was already a systematic way of monitoring accidents and their causes.

De Jesus said authorities had put together land transport safety and investigation committee that would spring to action anytime there was an accident.

He said they were also checking the roadworthiness of the vehicles and who certified them as roadworthy – the Land Transportation Office (LTO) or the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

De Jesus also said they would check whether the drivers were under the influence of drugs or liquor or whether he underwent proficiency test.

The President asked the DOTC to submit a compilation of data on the road accidents and which vehicles and companies figured in them.

Red Cross ready for Lenten break

Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) yesterday asked the public to observe caution when traveling to the provinces to observe Lent.

In a statement, PRC chair Richard Gordon said motorists should make sure that their vehicles are in good condition before embarking on the road because this would help prevent road accidents and traffic jams this Holy Week.

Gordon told travelers that the PRC is prepared to provide first aid assistance and ambulance service on major roads nationwide.

“All PRC chapters are enjoined to be on standby 24/7 on Holy Week to provide first aid and medical assistance to possible road accidents that may occur,” he added.

The PRC had mobilized a total of 32 Red Cross chapters nationwide with 800 staff and volunteers to man the 88 first aid stations and 29 ambulances across the country.

Oban calls onfrontliners to reflect

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Oban enjoined all frontline troops to also reflect on the passion and suffering of Christ this Holy Week as they perform their duty to protect the people and the state.

Oban also ordered a tighter watch in known conflict areas during the entire Holy Week period to prevent or preempt any terrorist plot to sabotage the yearly Christian religious activities.

“As a Christian nation, most of our soldiers deployed in the frontlines also want to perform their religious obligations this Holy Week but are restrained because of their security duties,” he said.

Nevertheless, Oban reminded the troops that while they may be out there pursuing the Abu Sayyaf terrorists and the New People’s Army (NPA), they should always maintain their faith because being a soldier, just like any other profession, is a noble calling.

He said combat troops deployed in Basilan and Sulu are now conducting an active defense mode against the Abu Sayyaf and that the continuing combat operations have been underway against the homegrown terrorists.

“There’s no Holy Week for our troops who are tracking the Abu Sayyaf down, particularly in Sulu. But they (soldiers) can always make their respective religious reflections while doing their duties,” Oban said. philstar.com