We have shown our strength before... Time to show it again... This time, to the Senate...

In a privilege speech by Senator Gordon a few days ago, he has called upon the revival of the number plates on helmets. In addition to this, he is also proposing that the helmets be color coded as well.

This has come to our attention and just like the MMDA proposal that was met by full force and was completely put away by the community, we would like to do the same once more to the proposal that Senator Gordon that this bill be enacted.

We have been branded and profiled as criminals and we should not allow this anymore. The discrimination is just too much. They have put the burden on us so many times already that they cannot or will not even face the hard truth of where the problem truly lies.

We cannot allow them to turn a blind eye on where their failures are and we cannot let them put the burden on our shoulders. It is time to show them that we are also human beings with rights and the capacity to make things happen.

I have initiated the calling out for a just and fair chance to be heard and be treated properly by writing a letter and sending it to the Senators email and office physically.

Here is the letter:

Dear Senator Gordon,

As a Filipino citizen, I would like to take this opportunity to address your latest speech in the senate and shed some light as to how the motorcycle community feels about your ideas and beliefs particularly towards the people on bikes.

Why take the burden off the shoulders of the policemen and place it on the riders? You have already noted on your speech that the problem lies with the police force and your recommendation is to put a choke hold on the riders?

Isn't that a tad discriminatory and anti human rights? You say that since we are already entailed to wear helmets makes your suggestion no different? Excuse me Mr. Senator but, I beg to disagree. We buy helmets to protect our selves from possible fatal injuries and not to be vandalized by such ideas. How about people who owns more than one motorcycle. Do they have to buy a helmet for each one they own? I find that highly illogical and coming from a supposedly logical person, I cannot help but scratch my head with this idea.

As a public figure, you have blatantly shown discrimination and undue profiling on every motorcycle rider who only wishes to save money by going economical, use bikes for their livelihood, use bikes to enjoy the roads and most importantly, use their bikes because of their freedom to do so.

You mentioned in your speech that there has been several heinous crimes, including that of your father, then directly relate it to motorcycle riding hoodlums. Does that automatically give you the right to profile each and everyone of us as possible criminals? Just because we ride a motorcycle does not mean that we are targets that you can shoot on anytime you like. Why not aim your blazing guns at where the real problem is. You've already pointed out who they are anyway. If they would only do a better job then there wouldn't be any need for all this finger pointing and malicious branding of individuals.

Criminals are born criminals. They will do the act no matter what it takes. Putting a choker on motorcyclists will not help solve the problem of stopping these criminals you speak of. They will merely find a way to go around your ridiculous concepts and complete the task that they are need to do to complete the crime.

The focus should be pointed in finding ways on how the PNP, LTO and the community of riders can work together in reducing or solving these problems. Instead of treating US as the problem, why not bring us to the table and lets discuss alternatives where all of us concerned can work together. Leaving us out of the picture and turning every single rider as a possible criminal as you so blatantly describe in you speech is completely unfair and entirely distasteful.

So, before you put a burden on our 4 million motorcyclists and other stake holders affected around the country instead of addressing the main source of the problem, think again. We, who pay our taxes through the purchase of our machines and the gas we put in our tanks would not want to call you an anti-motorcycle public figure. Not when 2010 and the elections coming up.

Sincerely,

Jobert Bolanos
Motorcycle Rights Organization

You can read more about the issue here:

http://www.motorcyclephilippines.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153326

A few months back, the LTO... Now, the PNP...

It's been a while since the blog has been updated and I am sorry for that. After our work presented positive results in the AO issue with the LTO, the organization decided to keep the curtains down while we worked silently on a few projects concerning motorcycle rights.

We have made inquiries and have sent letters of concern over the parking issues and road hazards to the people concerned and have been continuously monitoring the LTO for any unscrupulous movements.

In the most recent couple of weeks, we have been bombarded with some alarming news about a certain shootout in Paranaque which lead to the death of a father and child who was mistaken as part of the target. This also lead to the shootout of an individual who was on his way to his night shift work just because he was riding a motorcycle and wearing a black jacket.

The incident, has again brought concern to the MRO so we are again mounting up and letting our voices be heard.

We are calling on the people who can help us get in contact with the families of the victims of the PNP's failure to properly conduct their service to the people. We would like them to partake in the plan to hold another peaceful motorcade which will end up with an offering of a mass for the victims and their families. We also hope to raise a small amount which will be offered to them for their losses.

So again, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for the silence and call upon our readers to heed our call for support once again. We cannot and will not allow the PNP or any other person to brand and profile us as criminals just because we ride motorcycles.

We call on justice for the bloody murder and obvious and blatant display of discrimination towards motorcycle riders.

Thank you!