Enjoining Government Officials and Private Citizens to Stop Using Police Escorts, Sirens, Blinkers, Markers, Stickers and Other Similar Unnecessary Symbols of Authority and Influence

1998 REVENUE MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 44-98 SUBJECT : Enjoining Government Officials and Private Citizens to Stop Using Police Escorts, Sirens, Blinkers, Markers, Stickers and Other Similar Unnecessary Symbols of Authority and Influence TO : All Revenue Officials and Others Concerned For the information and guidance of all revenue officials and employees, quoted hereunder is the Unnumbered Memorandum dated July 14, 1998 of the Office of the President: prcd "MEMORANDUM TO ALL CONCERNED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS/PERSONNEL It has come to my personal attention that some government officials and even private citizens have been using motorcycle escorts and utilizing sirens and blinkers on their cars in making way through our streets. These officials are often in the habit of using motorcycle escorts, whether authorized or not, to drive away motorists and pedestrians in their path. These practices are repugnant to a democratic society, whose citizens are equal before the law, and equal among each other. They must be stopped. Henceforth, all government officials and also private citizens in the appropriate instances, are enjoined to stop using police escorts, sirens, blinkers, markers, stickers and similar and unnecessary symbols of authority and influence, except the following officials: The President of the Philippines The Vice President of the Philippines The Senate President The Speaker of the House of Representatives; and The Chief of Justice of the Supreme Court In other instances, under no circumstances shall these devices be used, unless these are for use under clearly appropriate circumstances, such as in plainly marked police cars, ambulances, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. To ensure compliance with this Memorandum, the Philippine National Police is hereby instructed to check on all vehicles seen utilizing these devices, and to stop these vehicles even in transit, and enforce my instructions in accordance with established laws, rules and regulations. This Memorandum takes effect immediately. (SGD.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA President of the Philippines 14 JUL 1998 All revenue officials and employees are enjoined to give this circular as wide a publicity as possible. (SGD.) BEETHOVEN L. RUALO Commissioner of Internal Revenue