Highway Patrol Group Explained

Agencyname:Highway Patrol Group
Abbreviation:HPG
Motto:"Guardians of the Highway"
Formed:1955
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National:Yes
Country:Philippines
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Police:yes
Speciality1:Highway patrol
Headquarters:Manila
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Chief1name:PBGen. Clifford B. Gairanod
Chief1position:Director
Chief2name:PCol. William M. Segun
Chief2position:Deputy Director for Administration
Chief3name:PCol. Felix A. Verbo
Chief3position:Deputy Director for Operations
Chief4name:PCol. Rommel S. Batangan
Chief4position:Chief of Staff
Parentagency:Philippine National Police
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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

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

NameTermRef.
PCSUPT Leonardo Espina2010 – 2012
PCSUPT Roberto Fajardo2018 – 2019[5]
PBGEN Dionardo Carlos2019 – January 2020[6]
PBGEN Eliseo dela CruzJanuary – October 6, 2020[7]
PBGEN Alexander Tagum October 7, 2020 – November 4, 2021[8]
PBGEN Gregory Bogñalbal November 5, 2021 – 2022[9]
PBGEN Rommel Francisco D. Mabril2022[10]
PBGEN Raul Bargamento2022 – 2023[11]
PBGEN Clifford Gairanod2023 – present

Notes and References

  1. Web site: HPG: A Brief History of the Highway Patrol Group . 11 November 2021.
  2. News: The Highway Patrol's 63rd anniversary . 11 November 2021 . Manila Standard . 10 May 2018 . en.
  3. News: Cupin . Bea . Can the police fix EDSA traffic? . 11 November 2021 . Rappler . 6 September 2015 . en.
  4. News: Caliwan . Christopher Lloyd . HPG impounds almost 1.5K vehicles in latest ops . 11 November 2021 . Philippine News Agency . 17 February 2021.
  5. Web site: Cabrera . Romina . Cops to crack down on ‘8’ plates . 2024-01-17 . Philstar.com.
  6. Web site: Gabieta . Joey . 2019-10-21 . E. Visayas top cop Carlos moved to Highway Patrol Group . 2024-01-17 . INQUIRER.net . en.
  7. News: Najo . Anna Felicia . 22 January 2020 . PNP undergoes revamp; Cascolan named PNP's No. 2 man . 11 November 2021 . GMA News . en.
  8. News: 6 October 2020 . Cascolan reshuffles 8 more police execs . 11 November 2021 . www.pna.gov.ph . en.
  9. News: 4 November 2021 . Bogñalbal is new PNP-HPG director . 11 November 2021 . Manila Bulletin.
  10. Web site: Gabieta . Joey . 2022-08-16 . Former HPG director is now head of Eastern Visayas PNP . 2024-01-17 . INQUIRER.net . en.
  11. Web site: 2023-05-09 . PNP-HPG marks 68 years of service, excellence as ‘Guardians of the Highways’ . 2024-01-17 . PIA.