We hereby submit our position paper in the proposal
made by the Honorable Councilor, Ranulfo Z. Ludovica on the Ordinance PO12-53 -
"AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING ALL DRIVERS AND BACKRIDE PASSENGERS OF MOTORCYCLES
TRAVERSING WITHIN JURISDICTION OF QUEZON CITY TO WEAR VEST OR JACKET CLOTHING
WITH PRINTED PLATE NUMBER OF THE MOTORCYCLE THEY ARE RIDING, PRESCRIBING
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Let me state the general position as stated by the general riding community on our end:
WHEREAS, we acknowledge the problem of criminality and we are greatly saddened that the perpetrators of these crimes chose motorcycles as their vehicle of choice.
WHEREAS, we also acknowledge and laud the efforts of the honorable councilor in making such efforts to help prevent and ease the crimes perpetrated by motorcycle riding criminals
WHEREAS, we also have to remember, that the people you are asking to tag themselves are part of the public and are citizens as well. Although we understand the need to practice the need for police power, we have to ensure that we are also abiding by the provisions of our Saligang Batas and Constitution and that our rights as civilians are also respected.
WHEREAS, there are numerous loopholes in the ordinance that will not affect nor deter the would be criminal. We can cite a lot of scenarios in this but, the fact of the matter is, any criminal can simply take one motorcycle, illegally AND legally, and use a vest that will match the motorcycle's plate and perpetrate the crime without his true identity compromised. Identity theft is as easy as normal theft in today's day and age. Let us bear in mind the hassle, stress and burden that will be passed on to the unlucky owner of a motorcycle who's plate and identity is compromised by the criminal in commission of a crime that he is innocent of.
WHEREAS, physical issues may be affected as not all riders are created equal or has the same physical condition. A person with diabetes, heart conditions or other ailments that can only ride with a jersey may be affected in his operation of the motorcycle if asked to add more layers like a jacket or a vest. If that happens, judgment, comfort and risk are all involved and may lead to worse implications.
WHEREAS, economic reasons may also be affected as the general riding public chose motorcycles as their mode of transportation as the monthly amortization + gas is more cost effective that public transport. However, and in many cases, these people live off minimum or even less and the added cost of doing such may affect his daily budgetary needs and more-so, when he is apprehended.
WHEREAS, the idea, being brought upon the riders or motorcycle users alone, as much as we would hate to use the "D" word, smells of DISCRIMINATION as crime is not just perpetrated by riding criminals... There are those who walk, use other modes of transportation and even public transport. And in consideration of all the modes of transport used by the criminal, this means, everybody needs to wear ID tags identifying themselves while on the streets? I sense the great possibility of a precedence that will eventually blow out of proportion if this mandate is pushed down the throats of the riding public.
WHEREAS, the air being blown out by this idea is making the riding public more resistant to the government. Resistance instills the loss of confidence in our law makers and enforcement. Why don't we instill cooperation instead of acts that makes us more resistant? More than 95% of the riders involved are not aware, have limited or no access to the internet, media or other sources of information as they live through their day making as much money as they can to bring what little amount home to feed themselves and their families. And they are all prone to the apprehensions, if such is mandated by the lack of knowledge of such ordinance.
WHEREAS, we also understand and acknowledge the problem of the lack of enforcement thereof, however, passing the burden of the shortcomings of our enforcement should not be passed on the public. Instead, we should find means on how we can help each other out.
WHEREAS, as lawmakers who are tasked to ensure the safety of the public, the fair and equal treatment and protection of the laws should also be practiced. We cannot instill one mandate in sacrifice of another provision of the law. It should work together with all of the laws and be observant of the rights of the people you swore to serve and not mad pillions in your efforts to pass the burden to the public.
WHEREAS, just because the crimes made by these lawless people have chosen to use motorcycles, does not give us, or anybody the right to brand all riders as possible criminals for us or any person to tag them as such with these markings on their body. We are not criminals, stop branding us and profiling us as such. The problem of the crime is not just the problem of the non riding public, it is much more a problem to us, the riders as we are the ones who are now being asked to carry the burden of their heinous acts by being told what we can or cannot wear.
We therefore pray, to the honorable Councilor and the Committee of Councilors of Quezon City, to please look into other alternatives to help ease the issue of crimes done by motorcycle riding criminals. With that said, may we suggest the following:
1. To create a Community Crime Watch program that will involve local motorcycle groups to help aid in the dissemination of information, evidence, photo or video to the right agency in aid of crime prevention and crime solving. To instill fear and deter criminals due to the fact that police, enforcers, tanods and the PUBLIC are all watching out for them.
2. To push for the implementation of modern methods of monitoring the key areas of the city with the use of CCTV or other surveillance systems to bring forth the expedient investigations needed to solve crimes. This includes the public's capacity to use their hand held devices to capture and upload photographic and video evidence to help solve crimes.
3. To push for more police/enforcement visibility so that would be criminals will be deterred by the presence of these anti crime units.
In closing, we are not your enemies, don't make us as such. Instead of pushing our backs to the wall, allow us to help you in programs to ease the burden brought to us by these criminals.
We, and the rest of the riding community who are made aware of these mandates and proposals, willfully submit our cooperation and participation to help you ease the problem of crimes by other means and not with this ordinance.
We therefore submit to the committee, our strong objection to the ordinance proposed and in lieu thereof, we ask that we open our minds and our resources to other alternatives to make this a collaborative effort between the lawmakers, enforcement and the public.
On behalf of all our members, constituents and other road users who make up the millions of Filipino Citizens plying the streets daily, thank you and may God Bless us all!
Jobert Bolanos
Chairman, Motorcycle Rights Organization
President, Motorcycle Advocates of the Philippines
Let me state the general position as stated by the general riding community on our end:
WHEREAS, we acknowledge the problem of criminality and we are greatly saddened that the perpetrators of these crimes chose motorcycles as their vehicle of choice.
WHEREAS, we also acknowledge and laud the efforts of the honorable councilor in making such efforts to help prevent and ease the crimes perpetrated by motorcycle riding criminals
WHEREAS, we also have to remember, that the people you are asking to tag themselves are part of the public and are citizens as well. Although we understand the need to practice the need for police power, we have to ensure that we are also abiding by the provisions of our Saligang Batas and Constitution and that our rights as civilians are also respected.
WHEREAS, there are numerous loopholes in the ordinance that will not affect nor deter the would be criminal. We can cite a lot of scenarios in this but, the fact of the matter is, any criminal can simply take one motorcycle, illegally AND legally, and use a vest that will match the motorcycle's plate and perpetrate the crime without his true identity compromised. Identity theft is as easy as normal theft in today's day and age. Let us bear in mind the hassle, stress and burden that will be passed on to the unlucky owner of a motorcycle who's plate and identity is compromised by the criminal in commission of a crime that he is innocent of.
WHEREAS, physical issues may be affected as not all riders are created equal or has the same physical condition. A person with diabetes, heart conditions or other ailments that can only ride with a jersey may be affected in his operation of the motorcycle if asked to add more layers like a jacket or a vest. If that happens, judgment, comfort and risk are all involved and may lead to worse implications.
WHEREAS, economic reasons may also be affected as the general riding public chose motorcycles as their mode of transportation as the monthly amortization + gas is more cost effective that public transport. However, and in many cases, these people live off minimum or even less and the added cost of doing such may affect his daily budgetary needs and more-so, when he is apprehended.
WHEREAS, the idea, being brought upon the riders or motorcycle users alone, as much as we would hate to use the "D" word, smells of DISCRIMINATION as crime is not just perpetrated by riding criminals... There are those who walk, use other modes of transportation and even public transport. And in consideration of all the modes of transport used by the criminal, this means, everybody needs to wear ID tags identifying themselves while on the streets? I sense the great possibility of a precedence that will eventually blow out of proportion if this mandate is pushed down the throats of the riding public.
WHEREAS, the air being blown out by this idea is making the riding public more resistant to the government. Resistance instills the loss of confidence in our law makers and enforcement. Why don't we instill cooperation instead of acts that makes us more resistant? More than 95% of the riders involved are not aware, have limited or no access to the internet, media or other sources of information as they live through their day making as much money as they can to bring what little amount home to feed themselves and their families. And they are all prone to the apprehensions, if such is mandated by the lack of knowledge of such ordinance.
WHEREAS, we also understand and acknowledge the problem of the lack of enforcement thereof, however, passing the burden of the shortcomings of our enforcement should not be passed on the public. Instead, we should find means on how we can help each other out.
WHEREAS, as lawmakers who are tasked to ensure the safety of the public, the fair and equal treatment and protection of the laws should also be practiced. We cannot instill one mandate in sacrifice of another provision of the law. It should work together with all of the laws and be observant of the rights of the people you swore to serve and not mad pillions in your efforts to pass the burden to the public.
WHEREAS, just because the crimes made by these lawless people have chosen to use motorcycles, does not give us, or anybody the right to brand all riders as possible criminals for us or any person to tag them as such with these markings on their body. We are not criminals, stop branding us and profiling us as such. The problem of the crime is not just the problem of the non riding public, it is much more a problem to us, the riders as we are the ones who are now being asked to carry the burden of their heinous acts by being told what we can or cannot wear.
We therefore pray, to the honorable Councilor and the Committee of Councilors of Quezon City, to please look into other alternatives to help ease the issue of crimes done by motorcycle riding criminals. With that said, may we suggest the following:
1. To create a Community Crime Watch program that will involve local motorcycle groups to help aid in the dissemination of information, evidence, photo or video to the right agency in aid of crime prevention and crime solving. To instill fear and deter criminals due to the fact that police, enforcers, tanods and the PUBLIC are all watching out for them.
2. To push for the implementation of modern methods of monitoring the key areas of the city with the use of CCTV or other surveillance systems to bring forth the expedient investigations needed to solve crimes. This includes the public's capacity to use their hand held devices to capture and upload photographic and video evidence to help solve crimes.
3. To push for more police/enforcement visibility so that would be criminals will be deterred by the presence of these anti crime units.
In closing, we are not your enemies, don't make us as such. Instead of pushing our backs to the wall, allow us to help you in programs to ease the burden brought to us by these criminals.
We, and the rest of the riding community who are made aware of these mandates and proposals, willfully submit our cooperation and participation to help you ease the problem of crimes by other means and not with this ordinance.
We therefore submit to the committee, our strong objection to the ordinance proposed and in lieu thereof, we ask that we open our minds and our resources to other alternatives to make this a collaborative effort between the lawmakers, enforcement and the public.
On behalf of all our members, constituents and other road users who make up the millions of Filipino Citizens plying the streets daily, thank you and may God Bless us all!
Jobert Bolanos
Chairman, Motorcycle Rights Organization
President, Motorcycle Advocates of the Philippines
No comments:
Post a Comment