'Walang padrino, lamangan, wang-wang'

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino promised a new order of things to come in his administration for the next six years.

During his inaugural speech, Mr. Aquino said he would try to set everything in order to level the playing field in governance.

“Walang lamangan, walang padrino, at walang magnanakaw. (No more influence peddling, no more patronage politics, no more stealing from the government),” Mr. Aquino told a cheering crowd of 500,000 people that witnessed his inauguration at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila yesterday.

Mr. Aquino also lamented the indiscriminate use of sirens and that has become a bane in the streets.

He also vowed to put an end to the practice of sirens and extortion by errant policemen.

“Walang wang wang, walang counter-flow, walang tong. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawanggawa (No more sirens, no more counter-flow, no more extortion. It is time for us to work positively),” he said.

Trying to set a good example, Mr. Aquino led his convoy of security escorts by stopping at every traffic light at road intersections on his way yesterday to Malacañang to fetch outgoing president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the inaugural ceremonies.

Mr. Aquino was on board a white sports utility vehicle accompanied by a lean entourage of security escorts from his residence on Times Street in Quezon City to Malacañang in Manila.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) took the cue from Mr. Aquino by ordering the implementation of the “no wang wang” policy in connection with the indiscriminate use of sirens.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa immediately ordered the entire police force to follow the instructions of the new President, including policies against mulcting and extortion by corrupt lawmen.

“Regarding the use of sirens, the PNP will immediately coordinate with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the primary implementor of RA 4136 and PD 96, for the immediate implementation of this presidential directive,” Verzosa said.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said Verzosa set the example by calling off his usual motorcycle security escorts when he returned to the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City after attending the inauguration ceremonies at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Espina said the PNP would coordinate with other law enforcement agencies and uniformed services regarding the policy against indiscriminate use of sirens.

He said the LTO, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) should also implement the new policy on the proper use of sirens and the crackdown against erring law enforcers.

“On anti-extortion/mulcting operations, the PNP will likewise revitalize its operations,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Orlando Mabutas, chief of the PNP-Highway Patrol Group, also ordered the full implementation on the proper use of sirens.

Mabutas said the public should be aware of the law on sirens and blinkers.

He said the only people allowed to use the devices are the President, the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, marked police vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, for his part, said there are cases where sirens should be used, such as in emergencies.  – Aurea Calica, Helen Flores, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Marvin Sy and Jose Rodel Clapano