No arrests to be made on 1st day of allowed pillion riding for couples — HPG

Policemen conduct random check of marriage certificate other documents at a checkpoint in Ortigas Avenue Extension, boundary of Pasig and Cainta, Rizal on Friday morning, July 10, 2020. The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 has approved back-riding couple in motorcycles. Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — Couples who will be caught violating policies on allowed pillion riding amid the quarantine will not be arrested on its first day of implementation, July 10.

Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, director of the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (HPG), said the police will only be warning violators.

“Sa ngayong araw na ito, napag-atasan tayo ng Chief PNP, Gen. Archie Gamboa and Joint Task Force COVID Shield Commander Lt. Gen. Eleazar na ipatupad na nga itong pagpayag sa ating mga kababayan na mag-asawa at mag-live in na gumamit ng isang motorsiklo na magkaangkas,” Cruz said in an interview with DZBB.

(Today we were ordered by PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa and JTF COVID Shield Lt. Gen. Eleazar to enforce the implementation of the order allowing couples who are married as well as live-in partners to ride pillion on a motorcycle.)

“Ngunit ito ay warning lamang. Magkakaroon lang tayo ng operations ngayong umaga hanggang mamayang hapon para magwarning lamang. Hindi pa tayo manghuhuli,” he also said.

(We will just give them warnings. We will have operations this morning until the afternoon but only to warn the riders. We will not be arresting anyone yet.)

However, Cruz said that the HPG will still check motorcycle riders for use of protective shields, and will demand proof to show that they are married or are living together.

“Basic ang protective shield, ‘yun ang inutos sa atin. Kung wala sila noon, wala po talagang papayagan, di sila papayagan, pero wala pong hulihan. Halimbawa, meron silang protective shield at wala silang maipakitang katibayan na sila ay mag-asawa o mag-live in partner, warning po ang ibibigay natin sa araw na ito,” he added.

(The use of protective shields is basic. That was what was ordered. If they don’t have that, they will not be allowed on the roads but they will not be arrested. If they have protective shields and they cannot show proof that they are married or are living together, we will only give warnings for today.)

Cruz said the police may start arresting violators of the rules starting on Saturday.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier announced that pillion riding is allowed for couples who are married or are living together, but presidential spokesperson Harry Roque later clarified that the relaxation of rules on pillion riding only applies to married couples.

/MUF