Natu-el: Riding-in-tandem ban won’t deter crimes

Local measures proposing a ban on two men riding together on a motorcycle could minimize, but will not deter, crimes, a police official said.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el Jr., chief of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), said the best way to minimize crimes is to strengthen police intelligence work.

Natu-el said there is no assurance that a solo motorcycle rider will not commit a crime.

He also said the ban will affect millions of people.

Natu-el noted that the use of crash helmets is also banned in some areas. But he pointed out that wearing a helmet is for the protection of the rider.

“This is for the protection of the riders. In every 100 traffic incidents, 98  resulted in the death of the rider who was not wearing the proper helmet,” Natu-el said.

Last year, Cebu Provincial Board (PB) member Arleigh Jay Sitoy proposed an ordinance banning motorcycle riding-in-tandem unless the back rider is an immediate relative of the driver.

Sitoy said in a text message to Cebu Daily News that the ordinance is scheduled for a public hearing  in  two weeks.

The ordinance is patterned after City Ordinance 550 of Mandaluyong City that prohibits male passengers on motorcycles provided that they are related to the driver.

Mandaluyong’s city ordinance took effect on September 4, 2014.

Police have recorded a number of crimes committed by motorcyclists riding in tandem.

Among the most recent was the ambush-slay of lawyer Amelie Ocañada-Alegre on C. Ouano Street in barangay Looc, Mandaue City.

Her law firm partner, Briccio Joseph Boholst, and their law firm’s accountant, Antonio “Thanya” Pino, were wounded in the incident.

Amelie was driving a gray BMW sedan registered in Boholst’s name.

The MCPO and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have yet to identify the two motorcycle-riding men who attacked Amelie as well as the mastermind of the ambush.