Police to look into reports of cops not paying bus fare (Sun.Star, Sunday, July 29, 2007)

Police to look into reports of cops not paying bus fare
By Ian Ocampo Flora

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Provincial Police Office (PPO) here announced on Saturday that they would be looking into reports of cops boarding buses without paying the required fare.

Sun.Star had previously reported the complaints of bus conductors ferrying passengers to Mabalacat about individuals in civilian clothes introducing themselves as cops so as to be exempted from paying the fare.

Superintendent Ernesto S. Dumas, police-community relations (PCR) branch Chief, vowed to look on the matter and settle once and for all if these “alleged cops” are real officers or just plain civilians masquerading themselves as cops. He added that police officers are not exempted from paying fares in any public utility vehicle except during special operations like in the case of police marshals.

“The provincial director is looking on the matter. We are trying to take some leads and coordinate with bus conductors on this case to establish the real culprits,” Dumas said.

However, the PPO reiterated that they have police officers who board ordinary and air-conditioned buses to monitor the safety of the passengers.

Dumas had advised commuters and conductors to be very vigilant and help establish the identities of the “alleged cops”. He said that if a bus conductor is not convinced with the identity of a person who introduces himself as a cop, the conductor may request for supporting documents.

“Our cops now are fearful of investigation and complaints against them. So I believe that these people introducing themselves as cops are only civilians trying to abuse bus conductors to get free fares,” Dumas added.

He said conductors and concerned citizens may report such cases at 963-3874 or 0920-8599-452.