THE Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, also known as "doble plaka law," is not discriminatory to riders, but was crafted as part of measures to secure the country, said Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde.
The Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act (Republic Act 11235), recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, mandates motorcycle owners to install "bigger, readable, and color-coded" number plates in the front and back of motorcycles to prevent the commission of crimes using the vehicles.
Around 50,000 motorcycle riders from the National Capital Region and nearby provinces gathered, however, on March 24 for a unity ride to protest the doble plaka law, which they said was discriminating to them.
But Albayalde said: "I don't think that is discrimination. This is part of security. Security ito ng buong Pilipinas (This is for the country's security) not only to anybody. Para sa kalahatan na nakita ng gobyerno na pwede nating maiwasan lalo na ‘yung mga incidents na riding-in-tandem (The government saw that we can prevent incidents perpetrated by riding-in-tandem gunmen)."
"Remember ‘yung riding-in-tandem are perpetrated by suspects riding in motorcycles at ‘yung mga motorcycles na ito, napakahirap makita ‘yung plate number dahil napakaliit (Remember that these riding-in-tandem gunmen are using motorcycles whose plate numbers are very small)," he said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.
He urged his fellow motorcycle enthusiasts to follow the law and to “give it a try.”
Duterte signed the law on March 8 amid the crimes perpetrated by motorcycle-riding suspects.
The penalty for failure to follow the law is up to P100,000.
But Motorcycle Rights Organization chairman Jobert Bolanos said they are preparing their legal action should the implementing rules and regulations being drafted by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) fail to address their concern.
Among their concerns was where and how to “safely” place the number plate, particularly that in front of the motorcycle.
According to the law, the number plate should be readable from the distance of at least 15 meters.
Meanwhile, Senator Richard Gordon, the main author of the law, said the riders are giving “foolish” arguments against it.
"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," he said.
Gordon said riders could use stickers or decals, but the most important is that it should be readable from afar. (SunStar Philippines)