(Eagle News) – Malacanang said that the review of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act which calls for the display of plate numbers in the front and back of motorbikes will consider both the interests of the public and the motorcycle riders.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that President Rodrigo Duterte would be meeting with Land Transportation officials and with the principal author of the law, Senator Richard Gordon, to discuss the law and its possible suspension.
“There is an order to suspend whether or not it will continue will depend on the President,” Panelo said.
-Decals, stickers to be used for plate numbers-
He cited what Senator Gordon had clarified that there was no danger posed to the riding public regarding the law since the front plate number would just be in a sticker form, particularly a decal.
“It’s his (the President’s) call,” Panelo said when asked if Duterte would still push for the suspension of the law based on what Senator Gordon had said.
“Sinasabi ng mga kumukontra, makakadisgrasya. Eh kung sinasabi naman ni Gordon, ‘Paano makakadisgrasya kung sticker nga?’ Di hindi lilipad (Those who are opposing this [law], says this is dangerous. But if Gordon says, ‘How can this be dangerous if stickers will be used [for the plate numer]?’,” he said.
-Correction either through congressional amendment or through IRR –
Panelo said that the President probably only wanted a review of the law, to check if there is basis for the fears raised by motorcycle riders regarding the required placement of a plate number on the front of the motorbike.
“Ngayon kung delikado nga (Now, if this is unsafe), then he (the President) will ask Congress to amend it
“Kasi why should you be pursuing a law which you feel to be something dangerous. Then he will ask Congress to amend it immediately,” Panelo said.
He said that the “cure” on the law could also be made with the implementing rules and regulations which at this point had not yet been finalized.
“Ang pinakamatinding (the strongest) opposition is that there’s a danger that it brings to the rider,” he said.
“Firstly, you cannot implement that without the implementing rules and regulations,” Panelo said..
He stressed that the purpose of the law was to have the identifying numbers on the motorcycles so that that they can be easily seen and identified, especially those used in crimes.
He said that curing the law, whether through amendment or through an IRR, would depend on the recommendation of the LTO and of Senator Gordon.
