“Wang” Step Forward

“Last night, the taxi that I was riding was overtaken by a horde of motorcycles with their sirens on full display. They were followed by a fleet of posh vehicles that had sirens too. The public buses were forced to stop and give way to this motorcade. Perhaps, they were escorting a VIP — most likely a government official.”

Those were the words uttered by the late Cory Aquino, when years after stepping down as president, deliberately displayed a self-effacing lifestyle as an ordinary citizen. While few other politicians pursued a similar direction of deference, most of their kind have not. Indeed, as soon as this new administration formally assumed its term a little less than a month ago, many new officials lost no time in flaunting their new trappings of power — huge SUVs with heavily tinted windows, low number plates, stickers, and of course, “wang-wangs.” Their presence became so pronounced that some senators have called attention to the resurgence of “wang-wang” — the unauthorized use of blinkers and sirens by those who think they are VIPs deserving special treatment.

“Wang-wang” is a street lingo which literally means loud sirens and blinkers on top of the vehicles used by politicos and VIPs to cut through traffic and counterflow. Over the years, the indiscriminate use of “wang-wang” had come to symbolize abuse of power and privilege, which ordinary Filipinos extremely abhor and loathe. For many, “wang-wang” was just the tip of the iceberg of self-entitlement, abuse, and corruption that lay beneath. Citizens widely understood that, if simple rules cannot be implemented fairly and universally at the street level, it is doubtful that the democratic and constitutional guardrails work at higher levels, where the citizens can no longer pierce through the veil of official impunity. In time, the term “wang-wang” mentality not only meant the literal blaring of sirens but has come to be commonly referred to be the mindset of corruption and lack of accountability of entitled elites which have plagued politics in the country for decades.

Throughout his term, the late President Benigno Aquino III waged a very public and personal campaign against “wang-wang” that has robbed Filipinos of a fair chance to improve their lives. His inaugural speech centered on such practice: “Have you ever been ignored by the very government you helped put in power? I have. Have you had to endure being rudely shoved aside by the siren-blaring escorts of those who love to display their position and power over you? I have, too. Have you experienced exasperation and anger at a government that instead of serving you, needs to be endured by you? So have I.” His address resonated so strongly and widely among the people that they rallied around him and the display of self-entitlement withered quickly on the streets. And his directive was one of the most memorable and applauded edicts during his presidency.

To be sure, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. issued Presidential Decree No. 96 in 1973, prohibiting motorists from using emergency devices including blinkers and dome lights, limiting its use to the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, Chief Justice, police, military, transportation officials, ambulances, fire trucks, and personnel of the PNP, military, National Bureau of Investigation, and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board during emergency situations. Other regulations covering the use of the devices are Republic Act (RA) 4316, otherwise known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, also provides that “(n)o horn or signaling device emitting exceptionally loud startling or disagreeable sound shall be installed on any motor vehicle.”

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Regulation No. 03-005, dated May 22, 2003, entitled, “Banning the Installation of Loud/ power Horns, Horns of Varying Sounds, Sirens and Other Similar Devices That Produce Exceptionally Loud or Startling Sound on All Types of Vehicles Traversing Along the Thoroughfares of Metro Manila,” practically reiterates Presidential Decree No. 96 except that instead of mere confiscation the MMDA imposes “outright destruction of the prohibited device at the place of apprehension.” But, as it is here, entitlements are not given up easily. Despite the seeming vigorous words in our rules, the prohibition is hardly implemented. Like so many of our regulatory issuances, our government officials sometimes confuse words with accomplishment.

Certain government officials and private VIPs have even found an innovative way of circumventing the ban in the traffic-choked streets of Metro Manila: they use motorcycle-riding cops, who are authorized to use “wang-wang” and blinkers, as escorts to get ahead of other motorists. This development should prompt a review of the deployment of police personnel. The police-to-population ratio is inadequate enough without every moneyed VIPs demanding “special” protection. There are less than 150,000 cops directly tasked to maintain peace and order. Too many of them are on bodyguard duty, assigned to politicians, some top businessmen, and even the spouses, children and mistresses of these privileged individuals.

Perhaps the practice can be eliminated by the leader of this administration whose father initially put an end to the indiscriminate use of sirens or wang-wang almost half-a-century ago. Every Filipino deserves equal protection by law enforcers. Doing away with “wang-wang” shows his commitment to stop the abuse of authority and level the playing field for all citizens.