PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Friday, August 24, led the launching of the “Clean Rider” campaign which the police see as a big help in addressing crimes perpetrated by motorcycle-riding suspects.
Several organization of bikers in Northern Mindanao were present at Camp Alagar, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City Friday to have their motorcycles placed with stickers as proof that they are now “clean riders.”
Albayalde said the campaign was launched to help curb incidents perpetrated by motorcycle-riding criminals.
With this, he said, motorcycle owners will have their documents checked and records will be encoded in the police's database.
“Halimbawa, maiwasan natin yung makakarnap na motorsiklo kasi usually ginagamit sa mga krimen ay mga nakaw na motorisklo,” Albayalde said.
“Di natin sinasabi na ito yung solution sa problema sa mga motorcycle riding suspects pero ito ay paraan para maiwasan at posible mawala kung pwede man o maminimize yung incidents perpetrated by motorcycle riding suspects,” he added.
The country's top cop said the campaign does not only limit to groups of bikers but to all who own motorcycles.
Albayalde, however, said this is not mandatory.
He also explained that the stickers cannot be tampered and it has security features.
Albayalde said the stickers are free and available in all police stations even as he urged motorists to report to police officials those who are asking money in exchange of the stickers.
“These are tampered proof kasi isa lang gumagawa nito at meron din security features at libre po ito kaya isumbong niyo po kung may police na maghingi ng bayad,” he said.
Albayalde also clarified that Clean Rider-marked motorcycles are not exempted in security inspections during checkpoints.
“Ipakita mo lang na may sticker ka at ibig sabihin noon na once upon a time eh na-inspect ka na at yung mga documents mo,” he added.
The PNP chief said the campaign was launched in the National Capital Region (NCR) last month and it had since gained ground as evident in the decrease of motorcycle-riding incidents.
“Dati ang average sa mga (Before, the average of) motorcycle-riding incidents is 30-50 per week ngayon (now) average is 20-25 sa whole Philippines na yan,” Albayalde said.
The PNP chief was also in the city to lead the awarding of outstanding cops and police offices and units in the region during the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao celebration of the 117th Police Service Anniversary.
During the ceremony, a member of the parading element and a battalion staff passed out after standing about three hours on the field under the heat of the sun. They were given immediate medical attention.