Baguio PNP head pushes changes in towing law

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY – Col. Allen Rae F. Co, city police director urged the city government to amend Ordinance 78-2018 or “Towing Ordinance of Baguio City.”

In his letter, Co said certain provisions of the ordinance needed to be amended “in order to address current problems, issues, and needs which their office is currently encountering.”

The letter was forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Baguio for action. 

The city director commented on “City Towing Task Force” saying there is no actual task force established; rather, in actual practice, it is the City Engineering Office that removes obstructing vehicles along roads in the absence of a towing company.

He suggested the use of the term “Authorized City Government Office” which will aptly refer either to the CEO or any office authorized to undertake the towing. 

The CEO, however, recently clarified that a City Towing Force does exist or performing functions.

Also, the addition of “motorcycle” in the definition of terms was suggested implicating that any two-wheeled vehicle will be towed when parked along public roads impeding the flow of traffic or causing traffic hazards.

Co proposed the inclusion of towing fees for erring motorcycle owners worth P500 for the first four kilometer with an additional charge of P50. 00 for each succeeding kilometer. 

Section 4 of the ordinance (authority to remove and impound) mentions “City Parking Management Office” as one of the authorized offices to remove an obstructing vehicle from the road.

The BCPO suggested the creation of a City Traffic and Transportation Management Office (CTTMO).

According to Co, the name of such office (CTTMO) is more appropriate as it is broader and more general in scope encompassing traffic and transportation, parking, and other related matters. 

Section 18 of the ordinance states “Towing without the presence of a police officer or duly deputized enforcer shall be considered carnapping.”

Co wanted the phrase “duly deputized enforcer” removed to ensure  prevention of any possible carnapping incident by exclusively authorizing police officers who are educated and trained in dealing with criminal acts including carnapping.

Another proposed amendment was the inclusion of a 5-minute waiting time for the vehicle owner to remove his vehicle from where it is parked. Under the amendment, any unattended illegally parked vehicle will be towed if the owner fails to appear after five minutes of waiting by the towing personnel.