Highway Patrol Group

For the type of traffic law enforcement organization, see Highway patrol.

The Highway Patrol Group is a police unit under the Philippine National Police (PNP) who supervises traffic-related crimes and its management.

Highway Patrol Group
Abbreviation	HPG
Motto	"Guardians of the Highway"
Agency overview
Formed	1955
Preceding agencies	Traffic Management Command (until 1997) Traffic Management Group (1997–2008)
Jurisdictional structure
National agency	Philippines
Operations jurisdiction	Philippines
General nature	Civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	Manila
Agency executives	PBGen. Clifford B. Gairanod, Director PCol. William M. Segun, Deputy Director for Administration PCol. Felix A. Verbo, Deputy Director for Operations PCol. Rommel S. Batangan, Chief of Staff
Parent agency	Philippine National Police

History

The Highway Patrol Group was established as Traffic Control Group (Trafcon) in 1955 as a response to a high-profile vehicular accident along a highway in Pampanga, now known as the MacArthur Highway. The accident which occurred on November 4, 1954, which killed House of Representatives members Gregorio Tan of Samar and Lorenzo Ziga of Albay. President Ramon Magsaysay urged Congress to establish a "specialized and dedicated" police unit to maintain road traffic safety across the Philippines.^[1][2]

The Trafcon was a unit under the Philippine Constabulary, which in turn was part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Trafcon later became known as the Constabulary Highway Patrol Group. The HPG was absorbed in 1991 when the Philippine National Police was formed through the merger of the Constabulary and the Integrated National Police. The HPG became the Traffic Management Group. However the traffic law enforcement powers of the patrol group was given to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units (LGUs) some years later.^[3] In May 2008, TMG became Highway Patrol Group due to Napolcom Resolution No. 2008-262.^[4]

The Highway Patrol Group returned to EDSA in 2015 and was tasked to enforce traffic laws due to worsening traffic conditions in the Metro Manila thoroughfare at the time. This is to augment MMDA traffic constables and LGU enforcers. The HPG last patrolled EDSA in 1994.^[3]

Organization

As the Traffic Control Group (Trafcon), the unit was under the Philippine Constabulary.^[1] It later became part of the Philippine National Police. The HPG has Regional Highway Patrol Units under it.^[5]

Role

Highway Patrol Group's Kawasaki Ninja 650R No. 210

The Highway Patrol Group is a highway patrol with a national scope. It is tasked to enforce traffic safety roles and provides general supervision to local police forces with regard to the enforcement of traffic laws. It also provides assistance to the Land Transportation Office, formerly the Bureau of Land Transportation. The HPG furthermore also enforces driver's licenses and motor vehicle registration and regulations with regards to public carriers.^[1]

Directors

Name	Term	Ref.
PSSUPT Francisco Zubia	1995	[6]
PCSUPT Renato Paredes	2000 – March 2002	[7][8]
PCSUPT Nestorio Gualberto	March 2002 – ?	[8]
PCSUPT Danilo Mangila	2003
PCSUPT Leonardo Espina	2010 – 2012	[9]
PCSUPT Arazzad Subong	2012 –2015	[10][11]
PCSUPT Arnold Gunnacao	2015 – 2016	[12]
PCSUPT Antonio N. Gardiola Jr.	July 4, 2016 – July 11, 2017	[13]
PCSUPT Arnel Escobal	July 11, 2017 – June 4, 2018	[14]
PCSUPT Roberto Fajardo	June 4, 2018 – August 15, 2019	[15][16]
PBGEN Dionardo Carlos	October 21, 2019 – January 19, 2020	[17]
PBGEN Eliseo dela Cruz	January 19, 2020 – October 6, 2020	[18]
PBGEN Alexander Tagum	October 6, 2020 – November 5, 2021	[19]
PBGEN Gregory Bogñalbal	November 5, 2021 – November 15, 2021	[20][21]
PBGEN Rommel Francisco D. Marbil	November 15, 2021 – August 8, 2022	[22][23]
PBGEN Clifford Gairanod	August 8, 2022 – April 4, 2023	[23][24]
PBGEN Raul Bargamento	April 4, 2023 – June 23, 2023	[25][26]
PBGEN Allan Nazzaro	June 26, 2023 – May 15, 2024	[27][28]
PBGEN Jay Cumigad	May 15, 2024 – October 8, 2024	[29]
PBGEN William Segun	October 8, 2024 – January 11, 2025	[30]
PBGEN Eleazar Matta	January 11, 2025 – present	[31]