Members of the Philippine National Police conduct a Comelec checkpoint in Sta. Ana, Manila on October 27, 2023, days before the BSKE 2023 elections. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The Philippine National Police is implementing stricter Commission on Election checkpoints following a road altercation that resulted in a fatal shooting in Antipolo City.

Personnel from the Highway Patrol Group are being mobilized at Comelec checkpoints nationwide following the directive of PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil.

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“We will give the best effort and deployments para masamahan ang ating checkpoints ng ating mga local [police force]. Hindi tayo nagkakamali—magbibigay at magdadagdag ang HPG ng dalawa hanggang apat na personnel natin sa kabuuang 86 na provincial highway patrol teams nationwide,” PNP-HPG spokesperson P/Lt. Nadame Malang told reporters at Camp Crame Thursday.

“Gaya ng nabanggit ng chief PNP, ang additional guidelines sa lahat ng ating mamang tsuper at rider kapag dumaan sa ating mga checkpoint, lahat ay sasalain. Ichicheck ng ating HPG whether ito ay naglalaman pa o macheck nang maigi ang mga kontrabando na iniiwasan ng HPG na madala sa ibang lugar,” he added.

The Comelec checkpoints have been set up in light of the election gun ban from January 12 to June 11.

PNP calls on citizens to cooperate at Comelec checkpoints

Under the PNP’s policy, police are only limited to conduct plain view inspection on vehicles passing through checkpoints.

“Strict pa rin ang HPG, motor man o kotse, talagang kailangan nating i-adhere ang plain view doctrine kung saan ito ay isa sa mga POP [Police Operational Procedures] o powers na ibinigay sa atin ng LTO [Land Transportation Office]. Muli, itong bilin ng ating butihing chief PNP ay umasa ang ating mga kababayan na talagang ito ay susundin ng HPG para mas mapaigting pa natin ang seguridad ng ating mga motorista,” Malang said.

The official also explained why motorcycle riders are being asked to open their glove compartments for further inspection.

“Ano ba ang hinahanap kapag tayo ay dumadaan sa checkpoint? Una po diyan, ang ating mga lisensya. Pangalawa, ang ating OR/CR,” the police official said.

“Sa plain view doctrine, ang ating mga motor kapag dumadaan sa checkpoints ay ang kanilang mga papeles ay nasa compartment, kaya sila ay pinahihinto ng ating mga kasama para makita ang kanilang legal documents at doon nagkakaroon ng pagkakataon na kapag sila ay nagboluntaryo na ibigay ang kanilang papeles through opening their compartments or U-box, doon na nagkakaroon ng additional na plain view doctrine para sa ating mga tropa.”

“It is a need talaga na ipakita ang ating OR/CR para maverify bakasakali ang sasakyan ay may criminal history o napaggamitan pa ng iba pang krimen."

According to Malang, checkpoint personnel can quickly assess possible violations based on what they see.

“Ang documents ay pinipresent po natin. Muli, malalaman kaagad ng HPG ‘yan. Meron tayong techniques and schooling para malaman kung true—plate spotting—alam na natin kaagad kung may initial violation na kaagad itong ating riders or motorists,” he noted.

The road rage incident occurred on Sunday, March 30, along the busy Marcos Highway in Antipolo City.

The situation escalated into a shooting, resulting in the killing of a motorcycle rider and the wounding of three others, including the suspect’s partner.

The suspect fled the scene onboard an SUV but was arrested at a checkpoint.

Marbil said the incident shows the importance of checkpoint operations.

Malang advised motorists passing through checkpoints to cooperate with authorities.

“Kung wala namang dapat violation, ano’ng dahilan para ihold ang ating mga kababayan? Ang paalala ng HPG ay ang kanilang direktang kooperasyon para sa mga kababayan nating dadaan sa checkpoints na itinalaga ng ating mga local [police] along with HPG officers,” he said.