Riders from different motorcycle groups gather at the People Power Monument at the corner of Edsa and White Plains Road on Sunday morning, March 24, 2019, before the start of their Unity Ride against bigger license plates. (Photo by FAYE ORELLANA / INQUIRER.NET)
PASAY, Philippines — Motorcycle groups staged a massive “Unity Ride” on Sunday to protest the enactment of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, which they tagged as was “unconstitutional and discriminatory.”
According to organizers, around 50,000 motorcyclists joined the ride to denounce the new law, which requires the use of two bigger license plates for motorcycles.
There were similar motorcades staged in Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Zambales, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Aklan, Bacolod City, Cebu City, and Cotabato, according to an advisory sent to INQUIRER.net by organizers via email two days before the protests.
There was no police estimate at the Edsa event as there were no officers present.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law, or Republic Act No. 11235, last March 8.
The law is not protecting but rather “criminalizing” motorcyclists, according to Jobert Bolanos, chair of the Motorcycle Rights Organization who spoke on behalf of the protesters at a press briefing.
He noted that there were new entries in the law.
“We found it more and more unconstitutional and discriminatory,” Bolanos said. “So in the end [the bill that became] Republic Act 11235, it is utterly oppressively, discriminatory, and unconstitutional.”
Bolanos also even their lawyers saw problems with the new law.
The Unity Ride started at the People Power Monument in Quezon City and then proceeded to North Edsa and back along Edsa, ending in Pasay City.
The motorcyclists had a stopover the Senate where they held a short program.
Among the groups that participated were Road Guardians of the Philippines, KRG, Cavite Eagle Riders, Motorcycle Rights Organization, Bull Riders Club Philippines, Arangakada Riders Alliance, Philippine Advocates Road Safety, and Bulacan Motorcycle Rider Federation.
“Our apologies to the riding public because of the tremendous traffic that we made,” Rob Cruz, chairman of Arangakada Riders Alliance, said.
“That’s why we did on a Sunday. Imagine how much more traffic there would be if we did it on a weekday,” he added, speaking now in a mix of Filipino and English. “Many were annoyed. Many were angry. But I hope commuters would understand what lies ahead if this law, Republic Act 11235, will be implemented.”
The motorcade caused heavy traffic along the northbound section of EDSA.
READ: LOOK: Thousands ride against bigger motorcycle plates
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority deployed more than 100 personnel to direct traffic along the motorcade route.
Meanwhile, Robert Perillo, chairman of the Bulacan Motorcycle Riders Federation, remained hopeful that President Rodrigo Duterte would do something to amend the act despite his earlier approval.
“We continue to appeal to our beloved President because we know that he himself is a rider and we consider him as a father of the riding community. Even if it’s already a law, we hope there would be a way to fix it.”
Motorcyclists who work for ride-hailing apps also joined the motorcade, calling the law as “ridiculous and stupid idea.” /atm
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