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1,350 caught violating pillion riding rules on enforcement day —Eleazar


Guillermo Eleazar report on apprehensions of violators of pillion riding

A total of 1,350 motorcycle riders were apprehended during the first day of the strict implementation of the government’s motorcycle pillion-riding rules that are part of the measures against the spread of the coronavirus, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield disclosed on Sunday.

Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, commander of JTF COVID Shield, warned that defiance of some motorcycle riders would be met with appropriate sanctions based on the guidelines approved by PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa in coordination with the Land Transportation Office and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

“When our motorcycle riders repeatedly pleaded to be allowed to back-ride at least their spouses or live-in partners, the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 listened to their appeal," Eleazar said. 

He pointed out that, "What the NTF is asking in return is for riders to install the approved barrier shield because it is integral for their protection and safety against coronavirus infection.” 

“As per Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año, we are not requiring all motorcycle riders to install barriers. But if they are going to use their motorcycles for back-riding, then they should follow the rules, he added.

He noted that the deadline for compliance had been extended twice and they were given a total of 22 days to install the prescribed barriers.

"We believe that it is more than enough time to do what is asked from them,” he said.

The deadline to install motorcycle barrier was set on July 31, while the full implementation of the motorcycle pillion riding rules started on August 1.

Based on the PNP data, a total of 704 motorcycle riders were apprehended for failure to install barriers while back-riding their spouses or live-in partners—a total of 697 of them were cited for appropriate traffic violations while seven were arrested and were taken to the police station.

Violators were taken to the police stations for various reasons, including being disrespectful to the apprehending authorities, or due to existing local ordinances that require violators to be taken to the police stations for a community service as  penalty for the offense.

Based on the guideline issued by the PNP, back-riding married and living-in partners without the required barrier, not wearing face masks and not wearing helmets fall under Reckless Driving with penalties ranging from P1,000 to P10,000 depending on the number of the same offense committed.

On the other hand, a total of 580 more motorcycle riders were also accosted for failure to comply with the installation of barriers while having a back-rider other than their spouses or live-in partners. Of the number, 551 were cited for violations while 29 were taken to the police station.

For those who are not authorized to back-ride (those who are not married or live-in partners), the penalty would fall under Overloading of Passengers with a penalty of P1,000.

Meanwhile, a total of 66 motorcycles were also cited for violation even with the installed barriers since police found out that they were back-riding people other than their spouses or live-in partners. The penalty also falls under Overloading of Passengers.

Most of the violators, 284 of them, were accosted by the PNP Highway Patrol Group headed by Police Brigadier General Eliseo Cruz.

The Police Regional Office 7 also has the most number of apprehension with 187, followed by the Police Regional Office 5 with 158, Police Regional Office 9 with 129 and Police Regional Office 12 with 120.

Eleazar stressed that continuous defiance of some riders would only compromise the NTF  plan to eventually allow more people, other than married couples and live-in partners, to back-ride.

“The NTF is currently assessing the compliance of our motorcycle riders. We hope that the number of violators would significantly decrease in the coming days and until all of them eventually comply with the prevailing rules,” he said. 

Secretary Año earlier stressed the need to install barriers as he anticipated that some motorcycle riders would take a back rider for a fee as they take advantage of the approval of pillion riding.

True enough, more than 30,000 motorcycle riders were accosted in various parts of the country from July 10 to July 31 during the three-week grace period (aside from the 1,350 apprehended during the first day of strict implementation on August 1), all of the violators were back-riding people other than their spouses or live-in partners, said Eleazar. —LBG, GMA News

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