Lapu-Lapu City to start arresting riders using face masks on Easter

(Updated) Lapu-Lapu City will start implementing a local ordinance that will arrest motorcycle riders wearing face covers on Easter Sunday.

City Mayor Paz Radaza said one will only be exempted if he can show a medical certificate stating the health condition of the rider.

The Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management System (CTMS) and Lapu-Lapu City Police Office-Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) will lead the arrest.

Radaza said she decided to implement City Ordinance 206-2009 after observing the alarming series of killings in Lapu-Lapu the past weeks.

More than 10 persons were already killed in the city by persons who wore balaclavas, which is commonly known as bonnets, and used motorcycles as getaway vehicle.

The CTMS and TMU personnel have been conducting an information drive starting March 13 and will end today.

“Ato man gyud nang i-implementar which is nag-warning na ang traffic police and CTMS tungod sa panghitabo,” said Radaza.

(We will really implement that and the traffic police and CTMS already warned about this)

The ordinance prohibits the “use and wear of tinted helmets, bonnets and face masks” so the face of the motorcycle drivers and the backrider will be seen.

Violators will be warned in their first offense.

A fine of P500 will be paid for the second offense.

A violator will pay P750 and P1,000 for third and fourth offense, respectively.

With the ordinance, Radaza said it will establish the identity of every motorcycle rider.

“Mostly diri pud di man ingon sugaton lang ka nya mamusil ang taw. Na-established mana sa police nga it’s drug related. I don’t know outside Lapu-Lapu kung unsa ang investigation,” she said.

(Most of the cases here did not say that someone you will meet will shot at you. The police has already established that this is drug related. I don’t know the other investigations outside Lapu-Lapu)

“Ang mga taw kung wa sila magbisyo ana, dili ra man tingali sila (angay mahadlok),” she said.

(If people are not engage in any wrong doing, then I don’t think they have anything to fear) (Flornisa M. Gitgano/SunStar Cebu)