MALINAO, Albay—A police chief here has found a way to make passing motorists smile on Valentine’s Day. Instead of a ticket for traffic violations, the motorists got a heart and a flower made of colored paper.
Municipal judge Samuel Buendia was among the motorists greeted by the police, led by Malinao police Chief Inspector Virgil Bibat, with a red color flower and heart s he stopped on his way to nearby Tiwi town. A resident of Tabaco City, Buendia is the municipal judge of Tiwi and Malinao towns.
The “flower and heart” greeting by the Malinao police included a written message for motorists to be extra careful when driving. Motorcycle riders were reminded to wear a protective helmet, and all motorists to drive with their license and vehicle registration and never to drive under the influence.
Bibat said since it was Valentine’s Day, motorists were not given citations for traffic violations only during the first two hours—from 7 to 9 a.m.—at the checkpoint on Tuesday.
Motorists said the estimated 40-kilometer-long highway route stretching from the Second District of Legazpi City to the First District of Tiwi has become the regular scene of abusive motorists using unregistered motorcycles with their drivers unlicensed.
In Tabasco City residents have urged the police to make surprise checkpoints not only in highways, but in barangays, as well, to teach traffic violators a lesson.