President Duterte on Saturday said he is looking at suspending the implementation of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act – Republic Act 11235 and also known as the “Doble Plaka” law – as the law has disadvantageous provisions for riders and that it will not make any difference in curbing criminality.
In a speech at the National Federation of the Motorcycle Clubs of the Philippines Annual Convention in Iloilo City, Duterte said that he will talk to Sen. Richard J. Gordon and the Land Transportation Office to hold onto the law for a while and to make a compromise. Gordon is the author of the law.
“I will talk to just one – Sen. Gordon. Sabihin ko sa kanya na, ‘Alam mo ibang countries, as a matter of fact all countries, walang plate number – all motor vehicles, walang plate number sa harap. Diyan lang ‘yan sa likod,'” he said.
“So I will try to convince the LTO to maybe hang onto it. I-suspend ko lang muna kasi it is not good,” he added.
According to Duterte, the law will not be as effective as legislators made it to be because Filipinos are known to be resourceful people, including the criminals.
“Palagay ko it would really not make a difference. The criminals of the Philippines have perfected the art of falsifying, fabrication,” he said.
Duterte, a motorcycle enthusiast, explained why he signed the law which riders like him hate.
“Alam mo kasi kung bakit ko pinirmahan ko? Ang pulis tao ko, ang military tao ko. Ano ang i-rekomenda nila I will adopt it basta maglagay lang ng rationale,” he said.
Duterte signed the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act earlier this month that aims to prevent crimes by making license plates more readable from a distance and color-coded based on the country’s regions.
However, motorcycle riders have argued that the law is also unlikely to prevent crime as no criminal would use his own license plate. They have also said that large license plates are dangerous for the riders as they interfere with the aerodynamics of a motorcycle and may get detached at high speeds or by strong wind.
Duterte said that he will try to make a compromise with Gordon and the LTO to make the law acceptable to motorcycle riders. The President said he will try to explain to them that the law can cause harm to the riders.
“It is dangerous to place another gadget, lalo na may kanto. May kanto ‘yang plate number, eh. It could be a plastic or it could be an aluminum. But still with an impact na ganoon, tutusok ‘yan sa helmet mo. Delikado, eh,” he said.
The President also cited the hefty fine violators of the law have to pay. He said he will try to convince Gordon to lower it.
“Mahal masyado, Sir, yung fine. P50,000. Masyadong mataas. P50,000 is mas mahal pa sa motor ang yawa,” Duterte said.
“I’m willing P10- to P15,000. Pero kung maaari, I go to the barest minimum, it should not go lower than – eh kasi sa enforcement siyempre may bayad – mga P10,000. Kung ayaw nila then P15, 000. Mag-haggle na lang ako,” he added. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)