TAYUG — Setting up of road barriers along highways fronting schools and churches are not only illegal but hazardous to motorists.

This is the contention of RTC Judge Ulysses Raciles Butuyan of Branch 51 in Tayug on seeing numerous barriers that began to proliferate along many highways, saying these are illegal and must be removed.

The judge found out that the barricades were put up by Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVOs) on orders of barangay chairmen ostensibly for the safety students crossing the highways.

But he stressed that the barangay captains have no jurisdiction over national highways and called on barangay chairmen to remove the barriers at once as they are not only hazardous but also a public nuisance.

Butuyan also observed that the barriers are never removed even when schools have closed for the day or vacation.

The judge maintained that the police can forcibly remove or confiscate the barriers and both the barangay chairmen and the CVOs who installed these can also be arrested for violation of traffic laws covering national high-ways.

“Those tanods have illusions of grandeur. It’s high time for the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the LGUs (Local Government Units) to have a little sense by removing all these road barriers,” said Butuyan.

“Aren’t motorists entitled to road safety too?” Butuyan asked, adding that the barriers have caused accidents that already cost many lives.

He also lamented why the barangays and the police allow people to dry their newly harvested palay along the highway as the illegal practice has caused many road accidents.

“As of now, democracy means dominance of the incompetents and ignorants who always outnumber the deserving”, said Butuyan, suggesting that the tanods do not know what they are doing.—LM

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