Law enforcers, others urged to comply with helmet law

GOV’T CENTER, PALO,Leyte- People in uniform especially law enforcers to include government officials and employees must comply with the law mandating for the proper usage of helmet at all times.

Tanauan Mayor Agapito Pagayanan shows to the local media some illegal fishing paraphernalia seized by the Bantay Daga of his town. LITO ABALA BAGUNAS

This was the reactions of the members of the technical working group for the Road Traffic Injury Prevention composed of different national government line-agencies in the region.
In the press conference held at the regional office of the Department of Health,one of the questions centered on the observation that some men in uniform particularly law enforcers are roaming around the city of Tacloban without wearing helmet.

Traffic Operations, Management, Enforcement and Control Office, for example, cited that in some operations they conduct in this city for the implementation of the local ordinance prescribing the use of helmet among road users, most of the violators they caught were law enforcers.

For their part,the Land Transportation Office, the Division chief for Operation Rebecca Obinieta stressed that law enforcers should not abuse their position.

“PNP personnel should not do this,” Obinieta stressed, adding that people in uniform should set as good example to ordinary citizen.

“Non-wearing of helmet corresponds with a huge penalty and much more if violators are working in the government, this might be heavier than the violation made by ordinary citizens who did not comply with the law,” Obinieta added.

She added as part of their effort to lessen riders who are not wearing helmets, they had deputized some TOMECO members who, aside from issuing citation tickets, are also auhtorized to confiscate drivers license.

On the part of Highway Patrol Group Director Police Senior Superintendent Romeo Campomanes, law enforcers in the region have no reason not to abide with the law as the national headquarters of the PNP is on the campaign to ensure that all law enforcers will abide with the law prescribing wearing of helmet.