SENATOR Raffy Tulfo denounced the “harassment” against motorcycle (MC) riders during the public hearing of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights as he expressed dismay at the way law enforcement officers conduct their checkpoint operations against motorcycle riders.

“Motorcycle riders are the most harassed and discriminated motorist in the Philippines. Only in the Philippines, and I can attest to that, although I am not a motorcycle rider but I have seen with my own two eyes how the riders are being oppressed almost every day. And who are the oppressors? Unfortunately, they are the law enforcers,” Tulfo said during the hearing.

Tulfo also reminded law enforcement officers to exercise “maximum tolerance” and follow the rules of engagement and other doctrines regarding checkpoint operations.

Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., for his part, backs the amendment of RA (Republic Act) No. 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, saying the current law does not fully solve the crimes committed by motorcycle-riding criminals in the country.

Revilla stressed that criminal activities perpetrated by motorcycle riding in tandem could not be solved by bigger license plates alone.

He said police visibility remains to be the best deterrent against street crimes.

“(Republic) Act no. 11235 was enacted to prevent crimes using motorcycles. However, one of the effects of this law was it became discriminatory toward the motorcycle-riding public. Some unscrupulous law enforcers started extorting money from motorcycle riders with the implementation of the law. As a rider myself, I have always advocated for responsible motorcycling in the country,” Revilla said as he urged some authorities to stop their extortion activities victimizing poor motorcycle riders in the streets.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Camille P. Balagtas