Cops: Protocols observed in checkpoints

CEBU, Philippines — Police authorities in Cebu have assured strict observance of proper decorum in conducting checkpoints following reports of “illegal” body frisking in Mandaue City.

Some Manduae policemen allegedly frisked and opened the bags of commuters that ran contrary to police operational procedures in conducting checkpoints.

The procedures prohibit body search and opening of bags and only mandate plain view searches.

Senior Superintendent Eric Noble, Cebu Provincial Police Office director, said checkpoints should be done with courtesy.

He said police must always uphold the rights of the commuters and motorists

“The checkpoints could be implemented with the aid of flashlight pero hindi pwede kapkapan sa sasakyan,” he said.

He, however, said body searches will be implemented on suspects based on intelligence reports.

Checkpoints, he said, will not hamper any type of anti-criminality operations since most of the time a pre-validated information is utilized to confirm suspected personalities.

Senior Inspector Llewelyn Reyes, Cebu City Police Office spokesperson, said part of the standard procedure is to ask motorists courteously in well-lighted area far from curved roads.

He also reiterated that city police personnel are also cautious in following the “plain view doctrine.”

“Sa atin, we do all the checkpoints in a proper manner. We observe well-lighted place, and sa dangerous areas, hindi sa kurbada, na mag-cause ng accident, tapos we observe the plain view doctrine on vehicles,” Reyes said.

“If pwede sila tanungin what’s inside their u-box or inside their compartment, if mag-decline sila, wala tayong magawa, plain view doctrine lang sa checkpoints,” he added.

Reyes urged the public to cooperate during checkpoints, considering that public safety and security is their utmost priority.

“Makig-cooperate na lang tayo pag may checkpoints and pagbigyan na lang po natin ang mga police. Ginagawa na man lang din ng mga pulis ang trabaho nila for our safety na lang din,” he said. (FREEMAN)