Highway Patrol Group
- Traffic Management Command (until 1997)
- Traffic Management Group
- PBGen. Clifford B. Gairanod, Director
- PCol. William M. Segun, Deputy Director for Administration
- PCol. Felix A. Verbo, Deputy Director for Operations
- PCol. Rommel S. Batangan, Chief of Staff
The Highway Patrol Group is a police unit under the Philippine National Police (PNP) who supervises traffic-related crimes and its management.
History
The Highway Patrol Group was established as Traffic Control Group (Trafcon) in 1955 as a response to a high-profile vehicular accident along a highway in Pampanga, now known as the MacArthur Highway. The accident which occurred on November 4, 1954, which killed House of Representatives members Gregorio Tan of Samar and Lorenzo Ziga of Albay. President Ramon Magsaysay urged the Congress to establish a "specialized and dedicated" police unit to maintain road traffic safety across the Philippines.[1][2]
The Trafcon was a unit under the Philippine Constabulary, which in turn was part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Trafcon later became known as the Constabulary Highway Patrol Group. The HPG was absorbed in 1991 when the Philippine National Police was formed through the merger of the Constabulary and the Integrated National Police. The HPG became the Traffic Management Group. However the traffic law enforcement powers of the patrol group was given to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units (LGUs) some years later.[3]
The Highway Patrol Group returned to EDSA in 2015 and was tasked to enforce traffic laws due to worsening traffic conditions in the Metro Manila thoroughfare at the time. This is to augment MMDA traffic constables and LGU enforcers. The HPG last patrolled EDSA in 1994.[3]
Organization
As the Traffic Control Group (Trafcon), the unit was under the Philippine Constabulary.[1] It later became part of the Philippine National Police. The HPG has Regional Highway Patrol Units under it.[4]
Role
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/PNP_Kawasaki_Ninja_650_R_No._210_%28Original_Work%29.jpg/220px-PNP_Kawasaki_Ninja_650_R_No._210_%28Original_Work%29.jpg)
The Highway Patrol Group is a highway patrol with a national scope. It is tasked to enforce traffic safety roles and provides general supervision to local police forces with regard to the enforcement of traffic laws. It also provides assistance to the Land Transportation Office, formerly the Bureau of Land Transportation. The HPG furthermore also enforces driver's licenses and motor vehicle registration and regulations with regards to public carriers.[1]
Directors
Name | Term | Ref. |
---|---|---|
PSSUPT Francisco Zubia | 1995 | [5] |
PCSUPT Renato Paredes | 2000 – March 2002 | [6][7] |
PCSUPT Nestorio Gualberto | March 2002 – ? | [7] |
PCSUPT Leonardo Espina | 2010 – 2012 | [8] |
PCSUPT Arazzad Subong | 2012 –2015 | [9][10] |
PCSUPT Arnold Gunnacao | 2015 – 2016 | [11] |
PCSUPT Antonio N. Gardiola Jr. | 2016 – 2018 | |
PCSUPT Arnel Escobal | 2018 | |
PCSUPT Roberto Fajardo | 2018 – 2019 | [12] |
PBGEN Dionardo Carlos | 2019 – January 2020 | [13] |
PBGEN Eliseo dela Cruz | January – October 6, 2020 | [14] |
PBGEN Alexander Tagum | October 7, 2020 – November 4, 2021 | [15] |
PBGEN Gregory Bogñalbal | November 5, 2021 – 2022 | [16] |
PBGEN Rommel Francisco D. Marbil | 2022 | [17] |
PBGEN Raul Bargamento | 2022 – 2023 | [18] |
PBGEN Clifford Gairanod | 2023 | |
PCSUPT Allan Nazzaro | 2023 – present | [19] |
References
- ^ a b c "HPG: A Brief History of the Highway Patrol Group". Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ "The Highway Patrol's 63rd anniversary". Manila Standard. May 10, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Cupin, Bea (September 6, 2015). "Can the police fix EDSA traffic?". Rappler. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ Caliwan, Christopher Lloyd (February 17, 2021). "HPG impounds almost 1.5K vehicles in latest ops". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ Bondoc, Jarius (February 20, 2002). "Kuratong Baleleng massacre revisited". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ Frialde, Mike (March 12, 2000). "PNP's TMG again assures 'corruption-free' EDSA traffic". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ a b Laude, Jaime (March 5, 2002). "Major reshuffle looms at PNP". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ Cupin, Bea (July 14, 2015). "Leonardo Espina's 'last card'". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ Alquitran, Non (April 4, 2013). "2 HPG men probed for escape of driver in fatal Skyway crash". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ Tulfo, Ramon (May 8, 2014). "Lawyer killed due to PNP inaction". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ Porcalla, Delon (September 1, 2015). "Highway Patrol Group to lead EDSA traffic management". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ Cabrera, Romina. "Cops to crack down on '8' plates". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Gabieta, Joey (October 21, 2019). "E. Visayas top cop Carlos moved to Highway Patrol Group". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Najo, Anna Felicia (January 22, 2020). "PNP undergoes revamp; Cascolan named PNP's No. 2 man". GMA News. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ "Cascolan reshuffles 8 more police execs". www.pna.gov.ph. October 6, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ "Bogñalbal is new PNP-HPG director". Manila Bulletin. November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ Gabieta, Joey (August 16, 2022). "Former HPG director is now head of Eastern Visayas PNP". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ "PNP-HPG marks 68 years of service, excellence as 'Guardians of the Highways'". PIA. May 9, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Dalizon, Alfred P. (June 27, 2023). "GOOD LUCK TO THESE 8 NEW POLICE DIRECTORS - Journalnews". Retrieved September 6, 2024.
External links
- Official website