Citing the unabated killings across the nation done by riding-in-tandem gunmen, Senator Dick Gordon has called for the immediate implementation of Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act of 2019 to prevent such acts.
Gordon, principal author and sponsor of RA 11235, made the call following the recent killings in the Visayas.
“We really have to do something to stop these killings with impunity. That is why I am calling on the LTO (Land Transportation Office) to craft the IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) of RA 11235 as soon as possible so we could immediately implement it. Because this law is meant to obviate crimes perpetrated by criminals using motorcycles as get-away vehicles,” the seasoned legislator stressed.
“The law is meant to obviate crimes perpetrated by criminals using motorcycles as get-away vehicles.”
Last April 12, award-winning homegrown barista John Michael Hermoso, 29, and Kis Tryvl Ramos, 21, who was set to graduate with a degree in psychology from the University of the Philippines-Cebu this June, were killed in a shooting incident at a coffee shop in Cebu City where they both worked.
The gunmen wearing crash helmets entered the shop and opened fire after it closed for the night, killing the two victims and injuring two other employees. The assailants then escaped on board a motorcycle.
Meanwhile last April 14, Fraldine Kate Ramayla Canes, 24, and her husband, Michael Canes, 27, who were onboard a motorcycle, were shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men at the corner of SB Cabahug Street and AC Cortes Avenue in Barangay Ibabao in Mandaue City at past 11 p.m. Their eight-year-old daughter, who was with couple on the motorcycle, survived the attack.
The couple, who were into the RTW (ready to wear) clothes business, were on their way home after coming from the North Bus terminal to send some of their products to Bantayan Island in northern Cebu when they were attacked.
“The current plate number of motorcycles is too small that witnesses can hardly take note of it.”
Gordon pointed out that while the use of a motor vehicle is an aggravating circumstance under the Revised Penal Code, the current registration plates on motorcycles are too small for witnesses of crimes to remember.
“Ngayon, madaling makatakas ang mga salarain gamit ang motorsiklo dahil either tinatanggalan nila ng plaka o di kaya napakaliit nito para makita ng mga witnesses. 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,” the senator stressed.
