# Highway Patrol Group

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

## 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.
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. In May 2008, TMG became Highway Patrol Group due to Napolcom Resolution No. 2008-262.
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.

## Organization

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

## Role

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.

## Directors

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