Secret marshals newest weapon vs wangwang

After closed-circuit television systems and text hotlines have been put in place, another “weapon" has been deployed against wangwang (illegal sirens and blinkers) – secret marshals. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said Wednesday the marshals will be in plainclothes and in unmarked vehicles patrolling main roads. "Meron kaming plainclothes [agents] in unmarked vehicles para magmanman para ma-capture ang behavior ng driver natin na pasaway (We have plainclothes operatives in unmarked vehicles who will capture the behavior of undisciplined drivers)," LTO chief Alberto Suansing said in an interview on dzBB radio. But he said the marshals also have additional instructions to go after drivers of passenger jeeps with their own version of the wangwang – the "patok." The "patok" is a loud horn that has earned the ire of motorists and commuters, he noted. Citing information reaching him, Suansing said the loud horns have been used in jeeps plying mostly Aurora and Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard in Quezon City and Manila. In other cases, he said jeep drivers would switch on their stereo systems at full volume, while speeding recklessly. "Malakas ang stereo tapos pasaway sa kalsada akala mo naka-drugs o lasing. Kulay suka ang pasahero sa takot (These drivers would drive recklessly with the stereo at full blast. This behavior is scaring passengers)," he said. Last Saturday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it will use its CCTV to catch motorists using the gadgets, as well as those involved in counter-flow incidents. “Sa CCTV makita natin ang plate number, we will look for their addresses. We will show evidence na nag-counter flow sila o gumagamit ng sirena (With the CCTV, we can see the plate numbers of the offending vehicles and track the owners to their homes. We can show them video evidence of their use of wangwang or of going against the flow of traffic)," MMDA general manager Roberto Nacianceno said in an interview on dzRH radio. Earlier, the LTO launched a text program allowing people to send tips to them about motorists using the gadgets. Suansing said motorists and commuters can send their reports to 2600 but must included the plate number of the offender In his inaugural speech last June 30, President Aquino had spoken out against the wangwang, which he said has become a symbol of inequality. Aquino had also shunned the use of the gadget in his first working week, getting late to a function of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Friday as a result. — LBG, GMANews.TV