From Alfred Dalizon’s column in People’s Journal: Known for instituting various reforms within the organization earning him and the national police force high approval rating, one of then Gen. Lacson’s directives on Day 1 of his stint as PNP chief was for all police officers and men to return all recovered stolen motor vehicles.

Ping Lacson’s famous order against use of recovered vehicles remains

Alfred P. Dalizon, Crame Files
People’s Journal
October 31, 2026

I’M referring to the famous order of Senator Ping Lacson when he was still the chief of the Philippine National Police from 1999 to January 2001 which remains a clear-cut directive of the current top cop, General Tateng Nartatez who used to be Gen. Lacson’s aide-de-camp.

Known for instituting various reforms within the organization earning him and the national police force high approval rating, one of then Gen. Lacson’s directives on Day 1 of his stint as PNP chief was for all police officers and men to return all recovered stolen motor vehicles.

Upon assuming command of the PNP, Gen. Lacson announced a strict internal cleansing campaign, demanding that any police personnel using recovered or stolen vehicles return them immediately.

I was present when he announced he will be giving his men a 2-week grace period, a 14-day window to return the vehicles “incognito, official, or formally” with a promise that no investigation would be conducted against them during that period.

Within that 2-week period, hundreds of stolen motor vehicles being used by some members of the police force suddenly found themselves being parked at the sprawling Camp Crame parade ground or the side streets outside the PNP National Headquarters or along EDSA.

Some of them turned out to have been converted into police mobiles due to lack of police patrol cars during that period. Some of the cars returned even bore shadows of ‘Pulis’ markings, some of them freshly painted.

After the grace period expired, Gen. Lacson ordered a massive crackdown against violators of his directive leading to many arrests and incarcerations of erring policemen who defied his order.

Gen. Lacson’s directive would soon be followed to the hilt, reiterated by many PNP chiefs that followed him since he left the police force in 2001. The policy is clear: any police personnel who will be found using recovered motor vehicles or motorcycles will be in for a lot of trouble. They will not only be arrested and jailed but will face criminal and administrative charges that will lead to their dismissal from the PNP.

On Friday, PNP Highway Patrol Group director Brigadier Gen. Patrick Angalang emphasized their strict policy against the use of recovered motor vehicles as he vowed to put the ax on any of his personnel who will be found violating his directive. The official told me he has also visited a big impounding area of different law enforcement agencies including the HPG in San Pedro, Laguna which he said needs to be equipped with CCTV cameras and guarded round-the-clock to prevent possible theft and other irregularities.

I learned that shortly after he took over as PNP-HPG director last September 24, the member of PNP Academy ‘Kaagapay’ Class of 1996 reiterated the prohibition on the use of recovered/impounded motor vehicles citing PNP Memorandum 2025-049 entitled ‘Policy and Procedure in Reporting and Disposition of Stolen and Recovered/Impounded Motor Vehicles.’

The official reminded that numerous issuances have long been reiterated regarding the absolute prohibition on the use of recovered/impounded motor vehicles by all PNP personnel as the act not only constitute clear violation of standing PNP policies but also undermine public trust and confidence and at the same time tarnish the good image of the national police force.

Thus, he enjoined all his field commanders to exercise utmost diligence in monitoring, inspecting and validating compliances to the directive. He also ordered his regional officers and heads of operating units to certify that no recovered and/or impounded motor vehicles are being used by any personnel in their respective areas of responsibility.

Gen. Nartatez has also made it clear that all police personnel are strictly prohibited from using or cannibalizing recovered, stolen, or impounded motor vehicles while they are under police custody.

PNP Standard Operational Procedure No. 2011-004 or SOP No. 7 says that no PNP personnel shall use, or allow any person to use, a recovered-stolen or impounded motor vehicle prior to the official lifting of the police alarm and the proper release of the vehicle to its lawful owner.

PNP MC No. 2025-049 on the other hand standardized the reporting, verification, macro-etching examinations, and lawful disposition of stolen, recovered, or impounded motor vehicles aligned with Republic Act No. 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016.

Police personnel are likewise strictly prohibited from removing, replacing, or “cannibalizing” any parts or accessories from recovered or impounded vehicles, unless a written authorization is issued by the Head of the PNP Unit strictly for official preservation purposes.

Personnel caught using or tampering with impounded evidence vehicles face severe administrative sanctions—including charges for infidelity in the custody of evidence or grave misconduct which may triggered their dismissal from the service.

Immediate superior officers and unit commanders are also held accountable and investigated under the doctrine of command responsibility if their subordinates are found misusing recovered assets.

Individuals found possessing undocumented, stolen, or unrecorded vehicles face corresponding criminal prosecution too.

Members of the PNP-HPG and the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group headed by Brig. Gen. Rex Malimban have been conducting surprise camp lockdowns, inventories, and inspections across regional offices and police stations to root out unauthorized use of motor vehicles and motorcycles.

Gen. Nartatez has also reiterated that all recovered, impounded, and evidence vehicles in police custody are held strictly for lawful purposes and must never be used for the personal benefit of any police personnel. Their safekeeping, documentation, and disposition must comply with existing laws, rules, and regulations, he said.

To strengthen accountability, the top cop has directed all 18 PNP Regional Directors and heads of concerned offices and units to submit an updated inventory of these vehicles not later than Monday. It means that all concerned PNP units including the PNP-HPG and police stations and regional/provincial headquarters whose men have recovered motor vehicles and motorcycles as a result of their operations will have to give a detailed report next week.

The inventory shall indicate each vehicle’s identifying details, legal basis for custody, present location, designated custodian, and current status. Any authorized movement, turnover, or release must likewise be properly documented, he said.

Gen. Nartatez said they will investigate any reported irregularity and will hold accountable personnel found responsible for unauthorized use, failure to account for vehicles under their custody, or falsification of records. Administrative and criminal liabilities, when established, shall be pursued in accordance with law, he stressed.

“The PNP remains committed to the responsible handling of government-held and evidence-related properties. Police custody is a public trust, not a privilege for personal gain. Accountability and respect for the law remain expected standards of conduct throughout the organization,” Gen. Nartatez made clear.

No ifs and buts here. This should serve as a warning to some policemen who have the habit of using motor vehicles and motorcycles they have recovered in anti-crime operations including drug busts, anti-POGO and cybercrime operations and those owned by moneyed personalities.