MANILA, Philippines - Living up to one of his promises in his inaugural speech, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III motored to Malacañan on his second day as president without a single police escort using sirens or "wang-wang" and by following traffic regulations. 

At exactly 9:30 a.m., the gate of house number 25 at Times Street in Quezon City opened to let a white Toyota Land Cruiser with Aquino on board leave.

The President spent his first night as head of state at the Aquino family residence.

A convoy of motorcycle-riding policemen and four black Nissan Patrol cars escorted the Land Cruiser to the Palace.

President Aquino's convoy stopped at red lights and moved forward on green light 4 times on its way to Malacañang, according to an ABS-CBN News crew who trailed the presidential convoy.

From Times Street, the first stop of the convoy was at the corner of Quezon and Araneta Avenues. The Land Cruiser stopped as did other passenger jeepneys and private cars who were also on the road.

The convoy proceeded after the green light and took a U-turn after the intersection, where a police car of the Police Security Protection Group was waiting.

The presidential convoy moved smoothly, without using sirens or honking the horns of their vehicles.

It was the drivers of media vehicles, not the presidential convoy, who would press their horns and zigzag on the road to keep up with the convoy.

'Different from FVR, Erap, GMA'

"It was quite weird for me," ABS-CBN News correspondent Jorge Cariño reported over ANC's Dateline Philippines on Thursday, as he described his experience trailing Aquino's presidential convoy.

Cariño said the presidential convoy made 3 more stops before reaching the J.P. Rizal entrance to Malacañan Palace.

He said the presidential convoy reached the Palace in 16 to 17 minutes at a speed of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour.

Recalling his experiences with former Presidents Gloria Arroyo, Joseph Estrada and Fidel Ramos, Cariño said a member of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) would usually cut a private citizen's car, or a PSG staff would alight from a car or motorcycle to "send a strong signal" to other car drivers to avoid the presidential vehicles.

"It was not visible this morning," Cariño said.

He added that media vehicles were allowed to cruise along with President Aquino's vehicle without the usual hassles of shooing away these vehicles.

The same scene was reported on Wednesday while Aquino's convoy was on its way to Malacañang to fetch President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the inaugural rites at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park.

Security at Times Street

At Times Street, Cariño said a "kwek-kwek" (quail egg) vendor was allowed to stay in front of Aquino's residence.

He said the PSG did not disturb the neighborhood in terms of security. There were no police checkpoints, and the usual vehicular traffic along Times Street was not affected by President Aquino's security team.

Aquino will stay for at least a month on Times Street pending the renovation of his soon-to-be official residence, Bahay Pangarap, a one-bedroom villa located inside the PSG compound within the Palace grounds.

The villa will be renovated to allow Aquino's household staff to also stay in the place.

Aquino's traffic vow

In his inaugural address, Aquino promised that he will put a stop to public officials' bad practice of using blaring sirens and counterflows just to get to their destination without facing the hassles of metro traffic.

"Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin," Aquino said in his address.

"Walang lamangan, walang padrino at walang pagnanakaw. Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawanggawa," he added.

His statement brought to life an interesting Facebook fan page, "Isumbong Mo Ang Wang Wang Dito," put up just hours after Aquino delivered his address. (Click here for story)

Presidential decree

Under Presidential Decree 96, only motor vehicles designated for the use of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Land Transportation Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, and hospital ambulances can be fitted with sirens, bells, horns or similar gadgets.

As for government officials, only the President, Vice President, Senate president, House Speaker, and Chief Justice are allowed to use vehicles with these devices.

However, Aquino said on Tuesday that he would, as much as possible, waive his right to use sirens, and that his presidential convoy would stop at red lights. (Click here for story)

Leadership by example

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Wednesday that Aquino's policy on sirens was an example of how Aquino intends to lead.

"That's an example of good leadership, leadership by example. Yung mga ganyan, bad habits have to be struck down," she said.

She said local officials are not allowed to use sirens.

"They're not in the list as to those allowed to use the sirens...Kaya lang, we get to see once in a while those sirens," she said. "There is a particular law, it's just a matter of implementing the law."

Taking its cue from President Aquino in his inaugural address, the Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered the strict implementation of the law on the use of vehicle sirens and blinkers.

PNP chief Jesus Verzosa has ordered the Highway Patrol Group to discuss with officials of the Land Transportation Office how to intensify the campaign against the illegal use of these gadgets.