Station commanders and chiefs of police, especially in urban areas, may end up being booted out of their posts should they fail to sweep illegal vendors away from roads and sidewalks as the Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to assist in the zero-obstruction policy of the national government.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. said instructions were already issued to chiefs of police and station commanders to clear roads and sidewalks with illegal vendors as the presence of stalls and other obstructions usually leads to traffic jams and compromise the safety of pedestrians.

The intention, he said, is to maintain steady traffic flow and ensure the safety of pedestrians by giving them the space intended for them, but are already being occupied particularly by illegal vendors.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said another instruction issued by Nartatez is for station commanders and chiefs of police to initiate dialogue with groups of vendors in their respective areas to come up with the intention of giving back to motorists and pedestrians the space intended for them.

“Our Chief PNP’s order is for the police commanders to immediately talk with the vendors for road-clearing purposes. We will be implementing a one-strike policy in terms of the PNP Chief’s order on this matter,’ said Tuaño.

Nartatez’ order came after conducting inspections in major transportation hubs in Metro Manila.

During the inspection, he personally saw that vendors were already occupying the roads and the sidewalks, especially those leading to and from LRT and MRT stations. As a result, pedestrians were forced to use the roads, which in turn, obstruct the flow of traffic.

For Nartatez, the roads belong to the motor vehicles while the sidewalks to the pedestrians, especially the commuters walking to and from train stations and bus terminals.

Nartatez said local police forces were already instructed to coordinate down to the barangay officials in working together to remove obstructions, adding that police commanders should also be active in removing common roadside hazards that include illegal structures.