Marilaque: Did HPG Rizal recommend more checkpoints, CCTV?

By now, viral clips of the Marilaque “superman” stunt that inevitably ended in tragedy may have already reached your Facebook feed. The publicity of the stunt (and other prior incidents) has finally woken up the guardians of the highways: the HPG.

Over the last few days, the Rizal division of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) has been very visible and active on Marcos Highway which is also known as the Marikina-Infanta highway or Marilaque (a portmanteau of Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon). And judging by a supposed press release from HPG, it will continue.

A press release has been making the rounds on social media today in various groups. Though we haven't been able to fully verify the authenticity, the statement contained does appear to be legitimate. 

The statement that appears to be from the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) Provincial Advisory Group Rizal, expresses deep concern and strong condemnation over that tragic incident. It goes so far as to call on the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to impose a perpetual disqualification on one of the individuals involved in the accident from getting a driver’s license.

It also added that “this heartbreaking incident is yet another stark reminder that reckless behavior on the road is a matter of life and death–one that demands urgent and decisive action from all sectors of the society.”

What the supposed press release states is that the HPG Provincial Advisory Group is recommending that there be permanent outposts and checkpoints on the road. The goal is to enable better monitoring and faster response times to emergencies and incidents. 

The statement also recommends more logistical and personnel support for HPG, more LGU participation in traffic enforcement, and institutionalizing Marilaque as a “Traffic Discipline Zone” with stricter speed limits, regular law enforcement operations, mandatory safety briefings for group rides, and roadside CCTV monitoring.

The goal: transform Marilaque into a “chill ride zone” instead of a “kill ride zone.”

Let's see how these recommendations pan out.