The 500-strong Grab drivers on Monday has been ‘deputized’ by the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group as road safety marshalls, and part of their new mandate is to report sightings of the elusive members of riding-in-tandem criminals.
In his remarks during the oathtaking ceremony held Monday, March 19, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa has urged Grab drivers to assist the police in apprehending the riding-in-tandem shooters.
“Bantayan ninyo ’yan [riding-in-tandem shooters]…1,000 eyes and ears, makalusot pa kaya ang riding-in-tandem diyan?”
(Look out for them. With 1,000 eyes and ears, would there still be riding-in-tandem incidents?)
The PNP has decided to use Grab drivers in its ongoing war against motorcycle-riding shooters after noting the rise in homicides and murders involving these criminals during the first two years under President Rodrigo Duterte.
The PNP intensified its campaign in September 2017 after the police were temporarily taken out from the administration’s war on drugs.
The PNP said the Grab drivers, as road safety marshalls, should report any irregularity they see while plying Metro Manila roads.
These include road obstructions and unruly drivers along major roads, and shootings committed by motorcycle-riding suspects, especially along narrow streets in the metropolis.
The Grab drivers are encouraged to simply text a special hotline set up by the PNP-HPG, and cops will respond.
But at the same time, PNP-HPG director Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal, warned that Grab drivers cannot use the title of road safety marshall to defend themselves from arrest if they themselves commit a traffic violation.
He said that text reports and messages by Grab drivers will be immediately verified and validated by HPG cops before they effect an arrest, adding that cops are trained to decide for themselves whether the report is valid or not.