Highway Patrol Group

For the type of traffic law enforcement organization, see Highway patrol.

Highway Patrol Group
AbbreviationHPG
Motto"Guardians of the Highway"
Agency overview
Formed1955
Preceding agencies
  • Traffic Management Command (until 1997)
  • Traffic Management Group (1997–2008)
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyPhilippines
Operations jurisdictionPhilippines
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersManila
Agency executives
  • 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
Parent agencyPhilippine National Police

The Highway Patrol Group is a police unit under the Philippine National Police (PNP) who supervises traffic-related crimes and its management.

History

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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] In May 2008, TMG became Highway Patrol Group due to Napolcom Resolution No. 2008-262.[4]

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

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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.[5]

Role

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Highway Patrol Group's Kawasaki Ninja 650R No. 210

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

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Name Term Ref.
PSSUPT Francisco Zubia 1995 [6]
PCSUPT Renato Paredes 2000 – March 2002 [7][8]
PCSUPT Nestorio Gualberto March 2002 – ? [8]
PCSUPT Danilo Mangila 2003
PCSUPT Leonardo Espina 2010 – 2012 [9]
PCSUPT Arazzad Subong 2012 –2015 [10][11]
PCSUPT Arnold Gunnacao 2015 – 2016 [12]
PCSUPT Antonio N. Gardiola Jr. 2016 – 2018
PCSUPT Arnel Escobal 2018
PCSUPT Roberto Fajardo 2018 – 2019 [13]
PBGEN Dionardo Carlos 2019 – January 2020 [14]
PBGEN Eliseo dela Cruz January – October 6, 2020 [15]
PBGEN Alexander Tagum October 7, 2020 – November 4, 2021 [16]
PBGEN Gregory Bogñalbal November 5, 2021 – 2022 [17]
PBGEN Rommel Francisco D. Marbil 2022 [18]
PBGEN Raul Bargamento 2022 – 2023 [19]
PBGEN Clifford Gairanod 2023
PCSUPT Allan Nazzaro 2023 – present [20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "HPG: A Brief History of the Highway Patrol Group". Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  2. ^ "The Highway Patrol's 63rd anniversary". Manila Standard. May 10, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Cupin, Bea (September 6, 2015). "Can the police fix EDSA traffic?". Rappler. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "PNP-TMG magiging PNP- Highway Patrol Group na". Philstar.com. May 29, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  5. ^ Caliwan, Christopher Lloyd (February 17, 2021). "HPG impounds almost 1.5K vehicles in latest ops". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  6. ^ Bondoc, Jarius (February 20, 2002). "Kuratong Baleleng massacre revisited". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  7. ^ Frialde, Mike (March 12, 2000). "PNP's TMG again assures 'corruption-free' EDSA traffic". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Laude, Jaime (March 5, 2002). "Major reshuffle looms at PNP". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  9. ^ Cupin, Bea (July 14, 2015). "Leonardo Espina's 'last card'". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  10. ^ Alquitran, Non (April 4, 2013). "2 HPG men probed for escape of driver in fatal Skyway crash". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  11. ^ Tulfo, Ramon (May 8, 2014). "Lawyer killed due to PNP inaction". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Porcalla, Delon (September 1, 2015). "Highway Patrol Group to lead EDSA traffic management". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  13. ^ Cabrera, Romina. "Cops to crack down on '8' plates". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Gabieta, Joey (October 21, 2019). "E. Visayas top cop Carlos moved to Highway Patrol Group". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  15. ^ Najo, Anna Felicia (January 22, 2020). "PNP undergoes revamp; Cascolan named PNP's No. 2 man". GMA News. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "Cascolan reshuffles 8 more police execs". www.pna.gov.ph. October 6, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "Bogñalbal is new PNP-HPG director". Manila Bulletin. November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  18. ^ Gabieta, Joey (August 16, 2022). "Former HPG director is now head of Eastern Visayas PNP". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  19. ^ "PNP-HPG marks 68 years of service, excellence as 'Guardians of the Highways'". PIA. May 9, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  20. ^ Dalizon, Alfred P. (June 27, 2023). "GOOD LUCK TO THESE 8 NEW POLICE DIRECTORS - Journalnews". Retrieved September 6, 2024.
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