THE Police Regional Office (PRO) in Northern Mindanao has apprehended 500 persons who violated the motorcycle backriding policy from August 1 to 5 in different parts of the region, spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Mardy Hortillosa II said.

Hortillosa said cases were filed against 11 violators.

He further said that they have started arresting motorcycle drivers who did not use the standard design for motorcycle barrier approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

"Ang amo jud nga gisunod kay ang standard nga barrier nga gimando sa IATF. Mao gapang dakop na kita niana. Ang problema lang karon kay walay available nga baligya nga standard," Hortillosa said.

"Mao sabton nga para dili madakpan, dili nalang sa gayud mag angkas. Kay mas labing hasol kung madakpan ka ug ma penaltihan," he added.

The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) on Wednesday, August 12, reported that they have not arrested any authorized backriding persons with no installed barrier, however, they have cited eight unauthorized backriding persons who have no motorcycle barrier.

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Arnel Agabe said that as per the DILG Central Office report, the Joint Task Force Shield has already approved the use of motorcycle backpack barrier design of Angkas, a motorcycle transport company.

The design has complied with the requirements set by the IATF for the containment of Covid-19 on transportation modes.