It looks like the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be keeping a close eye on motorists who travel along the Marilaque Highway. This comes after the PNP said that police presence along the mountain road will be made permanent to ensure safety and discipline in the area.

During a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs yesterday, Police Regional Office-Calabarzon (PRO-4A) Director Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas shared that the Rizal Police Office (PPO) has been tasked to ensure continuous monitoring of the highway.

Lucas added that the Rizal PPO has already submitted a proposal to the Rizal provincial government to create an inter-agency task force. This will include the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), local government units (LGUs), and the PNP. The proposal was submitted last week and is now awaiting approval.

Should it be approved, the PNP will have multiple units, including the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), and local police stations covering the entire highway.

“On the part of PRO-Calabarzon, I designated the provincial director of Rizal Provincial Police Office as the lead unit to focus on Marilaque,” added Lucas.

Despite the proposal not yet being approved, law enforcement entities have already taken action and have deployed PNP units along Marilaque Highway. HPG Officer in Charge Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta said 18 personnel have been assigned to support enforcement efforts and are augmented by additional regional officers and force multipliers.

“As of last week, we designated a permanent personnel para bantayan po yung kahabaan ng Marilaque. Of course kasama na po diyan yun pong HPG natin. Andun na po yung RMFB (Regional Mobile Force Battalion) atsaka yung local police natin. Yung mga pulis po na andun permnanent na po,” added Lucas.

[As of last week, we designated a permanent personnel to guard the stretch of Marilaque. Of course, it already includes HPG. RMFB is already there along with our local police. The police will be there permanently]

With the PNP (and HPG) looking to make Marilaque safe for all motorists, expect to see more police presence in the area to monitor unruly drivers and motorcycle riders.