MANILA, Philippines–A woman fell victim to motorcycle-riding robbers early Tuesday in Mandaluyong City, a week after the local government approved an ordinance that seeks to deter attacks by criminals on bikes.
Rodelyn Murata, 26, was waiting for a taxi near the corner of Sikap Street and Boni Avenue when two male riders aboard a motorcycle stopped next to her around 4 a.m.
Murata later recounted to the police how the back rider, who wielded an ice pick, threatened to hurt her if she refused to hand over her bag.
The robbers got away with the woman’s cell phone, ATM cards and cash amounting to P1,000, police said.
The incident added to the growing number of street-crime incidents that a recently passed Mandaluyong ordinance seeks to address.
The measure, signed by Mayor Benhur Abalos last week, prohibits men from riding together on a bike unless they can present government IDs proving that they are relatives.
Set to take effect on Aug. 30, Ordinance No. 550 had drawn criticism but Abalos maintained that it would only be pilot-tested for six months, after which it would be reviewed.
The mayor maintained that the ordinance was patterned after a law in Colombia.
Last week, Sen. Tito Sotto filed a bill enforcing similar restrictions on bike riders.
The Sotto proposal against what he called “evil Batman-and-Robin tandems” only allows motorcycle riders who are members of a family or on-duty personnel of the military and police.
In filing Senate Bill No. 2344, Sotto pointed out the data from the Philippine National Police showing that more than 3,000 crimes perpetrated by motorcycle riders were recorded last year in Metro Manila alone.–Vanessa B. Hidalgo