(Eagle News)–Senator Richard Gordon has urged the Land Transportation Office to craft the implementing rules and regulations of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, which mandates bigger and color-coded license plates for motorcycles, as soon as possible.
Gordon made the call following the recent killings in the Visayas perpetuated by people riding on board motorcycles.
Last Friday, John Michael Hermoso, 29, and Kis Tryvl Ramos, 21, who was about to graduate with a degree in psychology from the University of the Philippines-Cebu this June, were shot dead by two assailants wearing helmets at the coffee shop in Cebu City where they both worked.
Two other employees were injured.
The assailants fled on board a motorcycle.
Last Sunday, Fraldine Kate Ramayla Canes, 24, and her husband, Michael Canes, 27, who were on a motorcycle, were also shot dead by two men on another motorcycle at the corner of SB Cabahug Street and AC Cortes Avenue in Barangay Ibabao in Mandaue City past 11 p.m.
Their eight-year-old daughter, who was with them on the motorcycle, survived.
“We really have to do something to stop these killings with impunity,” Gordon said.
According to Gordon, the current plate number of motorcycles is too small that witnesses can hardly take note of it when crimes are committed.
He said sometimes, the motorcycles have no plate numbers at all.
“Kapag inimplement na natin ang RA 11235, huhulihin na ang mga motorsiklo na tumatakbo ng walang plaka at madali na ding mabasa at matandaan ang mga plaka. Kaya this law will give protection to the public, pati rin sa mga may-ari ng motor na ninakawan ng motorsiklo,” he said.
Earlier, a group of motorcycle riders staged a protest opposing the law, saying bigger tin plates in front of the vehicle may cause injuries.
But Gordon said motorcycle riders could use stickers or decals as readable plates in the fronts and backs of their vehicles instead.
“Gumagawa sila ng kanilang maligno. Palagay mo ba maglalagay tayo ng malaking plaka sa harap ng motorsiklo para malipad sa harap nila. Sinasabi nila kasing laki ng television, that is not the truth,” Gordon said in an interview over radio dzmm.