‘Clean Rider’ project needed vs. motorcycle-riding criminals — Eleazar

NCRPO Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar showed the sample stickers which will be attached to ‘clean’ motorcycles. /PHOTO: Gabriel Pabico Lalu, INQUIRER.net

Amid questions on its security features, the “Clean Rider” project is still an essential tool in preventing crimes attributed to motorcycle-riding suspects (MRS), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar claimed.

“From January to June of this year, the cases involving motorcycle-riding suspects […], bumaba ng 54 percent. But just the same nakatutok pa rin tayo dito kasi since noon hanggang ngayon, eh talagang problema ito,” Eleazar said during the Pandesal forum in Quezon City on Friday.

“Most of the criminals, in the perpetration of their crimes, ginagamit ang motorsiklo dahil sa maneuverability, madaling tumakas, tapos concealed sila legally, naka-helmet,” he added, emphasizing the need for the program, which will be simultaneously launched on Wednesday, August 1.

According to Eleazar, the Clean Rider campaign, which was a brainchild of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde during his stint as provincial and regional director, will be a big help in determining motorcycles used in crimes.

“Kaya clean rider, kasi malinis na motosiklo. All of the police stations nationwide will be tasked to process ang mga motorsiklo in their area of jurisdiction. Pupunta doon, iche-check ‘yong lisensya at kung ito ay legal,” he explained.

If a verified motorcycle — that is, a vehicle without tampered engine and chassis numbers — receives a sticker from PNP, it will still pass through the checkpoints albeit in an easier manner.

“At kung walang problema ang documentation, it (motorcycle) will be issued with a sticker… iba’t-ibang unit, may iba’t-ibang color ng sticker,” he added, while showing samples of the sticker in a photo.

However, Eleazar admitted that just like paper bills, licenses, and other documents, the stickers may be prone to unlawful duplication.

“Kahit nga mga license natin, nape-fake eh. Ang atin lang, once na malaman natin kung sino, we will run after them. At kung merong fake ‘yon, eventually magkakaroon tayo ng way to deal with those na gagawa ng paraan para di maging effective siya,” he said.

In an ambush interview though, he clarified that the PNP has ensured that the stickers will be non-transferrable, as removing the sticker would effectively destroy it also.

“Well kasi itong mga stickers na ito, designed ‘to sa isang lagayan lang na kapag tinaggal mo ‘di mo na pwedeng gamitin ulit,” he mentioned.

Eleazar also asked the public to give the program a chance as he assured that taxpayer’s money used to fund the project will not be put to waste.

“Bigyan natin ng chance ‘to, pinag-isipan ng Philippine National Police, and just like what I’ve said, it’s a work in progress […] definitely kung mayroong mga adjustments, gagawin natin,” Eleazar said.

“Hindi ‘to sayang, hindi ‘to sayang para sa ating lahat,” he added.   /vvp