Ejercito wants PNP to man Marilaque everyday after rising road accidents
MARILAQUE HIGHWAY / JANUARY 29, 2025 Members of the Philippine National Police Regional Highway Patrol Unit PRO 4A and local policemen conduct a checkpoint along the area of “Manukan” in Marilaque Highway, Tanay, Rizal, following the deaths in the 117.5 km Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon (Marilaque) stretch as motorcycle riders purportedly use the roads, particularly in Tanay area, as racetracks. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Motorcyclist and road safety advocate Sen. JV Ejercito wants officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to man the Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon (Marilaque) Highway everyday following rising cases of accidents in the area.
The reported accidents were due to some motorists pulling off stunts such as the so-called superman where the driver should be in a prone position aboard his moving motorcycle, akin to Superman flying.
READ: Increased police presence set at Marilaque Highway after viral crash
“I haven’t gone to Marilaque in the last two years kasi nga po a lot of accidents have been happening actually I voiced this out already before – nagsabi na ako sa PNP, sa Rizal officials [at] naglagay naman sila ng checkpoints, naglagay sila ng rumble strips sa mga areas na kailangan, pero nagtuluy-tuloy pa rin,” said Ejercito in a Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday.
(I haven’t gone to Marilaque in the last two years because a lot of accidents have been happening actually I voiced this out already before – I told the PNP, the Rizal officials [and] they put up checkpoints, put up they have rumble strips in the areas that are needed, but they still continued.)
Article continues after this advertisement“Kapag nandyan ‘yung Highway Patrol Group, umaayos sila at tumitino. Dapat siguro gawin na ng PNP na regular na nandoon everyday. [Ngayon kasi] basta na lang sumusulpot,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisement(When the Highway Patrol Group is there, they organize and come to their senses. Maybe the PNP should be there regularly.)
According to the senator, motorcycle riders organizations along with advocates are set to conduct a Make “Marilaque Safe Again” ride on Sunday.
In a separate text message to reports also on Thursday, Sen. Bato dela Rosa aired the same stance as Ejercito, appealing for a tightened security around the area.
“It’s about time that the Highway Patrol Group of the PNP tightens its grip along the whole stretch of the Marilaque highway with the support of course of the local police and the local government units,” said dela Rosa.