MANILA – This year’s first nationwide Oplan Lambat Bitag Sasakyan by the Highway Patrol Group along with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, PNP territorial units, and other law enforcement agencies, successfully took place on Jan 9.
This year’s iteration of the HPG’s “one-time, big-time” operation against carnapping and other vehicle-related crimes yielded a total of 330 impounded vehicles (53 motor vehicles, 277 motorcycles), 1,489 transportation-related violations, 3,184 issued citation tickets, and 266 confiscated unauthorized vehicle/motorcycle accessories.
This came after an operation conducted last Dec. 10, 2020 recorded 406 impounded vehicles (49 MVs, 357 MCs), 413 transportation-related violations, 4,721 citation tickets, and 205 confiscated unauthorized vehicle/motorcycle accessories.
“It seems our motorists’ observance of basic road safety policies took a break with the Christmas season and forgot to turn them back on after the holidays, as the biggest drivers for the 360-percent increase of transportation-related violations are the wearing of no seatbelt and no helmet for MVs and MCs, respectively, based on consolidated data from our Regional Highway Patrol Units,” said HPG Director, Brig. Gen Alexander Tagum in a news release.
“This is where our Oplan Lambat Bitag Sasakyan comes in, not only to enhance national efforts against all forms of criminality on our roads, but also to remind our motoring public to ensure all road users’ safety by following all traffic rules and regulations,” Director Tagum added.
The third round of the Oplan Lambat Bitag Sasakyan conducted on Jan. 9 follows up on the success of the same nationwide anti-criminality operation done last Dec. 2 and 10, 2020.
The Oplan Lambat Bitag Sasakyan is a continuing inter-agency campaign headed by the HPG in enhancing traffic law enforcement through the use of tools such as speed guns, alcohol breath analyzers, mobile motor vehicle inspection stations, and citation tickets. (PNA)
