Police Checkpoint in Cebu
If you drive in the Philippines, it is inevitable that you will get stopped for inspection at one of the numerous roadblocks set up on the highways.
This stop is on the National Highway on Cebu island.
The police checkpoints are usually set up to prevent car napping. They check for drivers licenses and vehicle registration.
In some areas of the Philippines there are military checkpoints. They keep the NPA (New People’s Army) and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) in check.
There are also Comlec (Comission on Election) checkpoints, Agricultural checkpoints, Marine fisheries and Logging checkpoints.
Tanod and local Barangay checkpoints are common too.
In the far south of Mindanao there are even ARMM – Autonomous Region of Muslin Mindanao checkpoints.
City checkpoints check for helmets and license tags. Most have a “No Plate – No Travel” policy.
These guys were a happy lot just doing their job but were not really interested in hassling anyone.
Technically they can take your vehicle if you are not in compliance but you would have to catch them on a bad day to experience that.
They didn’t find anything wrong so they tried a different approach and tried to sell us a coconut instead.
Police Checkpoint
Climbing Mount Apo
General Santos
Growing Orchids
Judy's Resto Bar
Logging with Motorcycles
Mount Mayon
Balabac Island
Biri Island
Calbiga Cave
Capul Island
Mangrove Swamp Palawan
Mikes's Resort
Wahaha! the buko part is funny :)
yes have encounted these guys on some trips. Never experienced a problem, we have always all papers in order and photo copies as well. Generaly once they know all is in order they are extremely friendly especially if one starts to talk about karon, that really sets them off.
Recently there were a bunch of them down from Cebu operating on Siquijor, this was different, they confiscated many bikes for the slightest reason. One resort owner I spoke to said they had rented out 2 bikes and these were taken. Reason was the bikes were registered in he name of the resorts owner not the resort. Cost was over 40K to get them back.
Luckly we were in order so no problems, one must always have all papers with them including license….
cheers dp
Cebu and Angeles seem to be centers for scams. Most other places there is no problem, if you have your papers.
I have gone through military checkpoints, late at night in the mountains of Samar and Leyte and they are so surprised to see a foreigner that they just wave me through.
In some parts of Mindanao, motorcycle drivers lift their shirts to show no weapons.
I just love riding in the Philippines!
dp
I was reading on another post that papers usually took 6-12 months to get. How does this therefore work with torists obtaining a bike for a month or so on travels?
Hi Jon,
It doesn’t work well for tourists traveling for a month in the Philippines.
You can get a temporary license, but the permanent plastic drivers license and the registration usually takes 6 months or longer.
dp
Three other stops –
I was driving south from Manila to Legaspi and stopped for a Comlec checkpoint in Quezon province. It was the first time that I was asked for a passport but I said I had left it at home.
It really was in my bag but was five days overdue for a visa extension. No worries. I got the extension in Tacloban – but had to pay a 500 peso fine.
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Two weeks ago I was stopped at another Comlec roadblock in Leyte (very common during the elections to get stopped 1 or 2 times a day) I forgot my photo copied registration but I was not too concerned because it was only a kilometer form my place. I had just nipped out to get a lechon manok and offered to go get it. They decided to let it pass.
The policeman spoke Waray Waray and also asked my girl for her phone number – cheeky bastard!
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In Palawan there are quite a few road blocks checking for registration and helmet usage. I did get a 200 peso ticket in El Nido because I was not wearing a helmet when we went to the market to get vegetables – No excuse really!
Conclusion – It is always best to wear a helmet and have a copy of your registration with you.
dp
There check points all over Angeles, routine stuff and generally friendly if all papers are in order. However there was the situation when i was waiting ( almost 8 months) for my plates from motortrade then got my bike impounded ( and drivers license) for no plates and registration. Of course I had paid for this with the purchase of the motor. So Motortrade or the LTO cuased the problem, but no one cared and it cost me a large sum for all things to be set straight. Secondly, whenever there is a checkpoint there are usaully 50 to 100 motors backed up on the side of the road cuase they dont want to cross the checkpoint. I suspect that a thief would simply stop and turn around once they see the checkpoint. kind of pointless>>. Thirdly, my asawa just got this bike Car napped or Motor napped right off the street in broad daylight. Gun in her face and 8 year old on the back. So a check point would have been very welcome for us at this time. unfortunetly no such luck. So… does it actually do anything to help… I think rarely
For Jon , I would suggest you get an international drivers license from your home country. Usually easy to get and not expensive.