Gordon hits critics of new law on motorbike license plates

UNITY RIDE. Riders mass up on Edsa in a show of force against the newly signed Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Richard Gordon on Wednesday said that critics of the new motorcycle plate law are only using the “Doble Plaka” tag to encourage riders to oppose the law.

Gordon issued the statement following President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to suspend the implementation of the law, citing that it would be “dangerous to place another gadget” in front of a motorcycle as it could pierce through the rider’s helmet.

Gordon, however, clarified that a sticker bearing the registration number will be placed in front of the motorcycle and not a metal or tin plate.

“In the first place, the title of the law is Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act of 2019, hindi Doble Plaka. That is a misnomer dahil hindi naman lalagyan ng plaka yung harapan. Ang ilalagay sticker or decal na hindi magpo-pose ng danger sa safety ng riders (In the first place, the law is called Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act of 2019, not “Doble Plaka”. A sticker will be attached in front of a motorcycle which will not be hazardous to riders),” Gordon said.

The senator said that this misconception, which may have been the same information that reached Duterte, is only used as propaganda by those against the law.

“Isa lang yan sa mga propagandang pinapakalat nung mga ayaw sa batas na ito (This is only a propaganda being spread by those against the law),” said Gordon.

“Kung ipapatawag niya ako e pupunta ako at haharap [kay President Duterte]. Pero sa palagay ko mistake lang yung naibigay sa kanya, as usual, like yung dobleng plaka, hindi doble plaka yan. Katulad nung sinasabing lata, lilipad sa mukha. Pwede ba naman yun? Syempre Red Cross ako, safe driving tayo (If President Duterte will ask me to meet with him, I will face him. But I think the President was misinformed.   They say tin is dangerous because it may pierce through the rider. I am from Red Cross, I am for safe driving),” he added

Gordon reiterated that the law will promote peace and order in the country particularly on protecting the public from criminals using motorcycles as getaway vehicles.

“Naninindigan po ako para sa tao – kailangan nating proteksyunan na. Sobra na ang patayan na ginagawa ng mga riding-in-tandem, tatlong dekada na po yan (I am for the people. We need to protect them. Killings by riding-in-tandem assassins are becoming prevalent. This has been happening for three decades already).”

Dito sa batas na ito, kung wala kang plaka mahuhuli ka agad, kung yung plaka mo binura, may fine yan, kung di mo pinarehistro yung motorsiklo mo may fine na malaki para mag-alangan silang i-violate (Under this law, you will be apprehended if you do not have a motorcycle plate. If your motorcycle plate is altered, there will be fine. If you did not register your motorcycle, you will be heavily fined),” he pointed out. /gsg