Motorcycle riders in the Philippines will be staging a protest rally at the People Power Monument in Quezon City on January 26 to defend their rights, according to the Motorcycle Rights Organization (MRO).
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| Jobert Bolanos with his group during an event in the Quezon City Memorial Circle. |
MRO official Jobert Bolanos said the move is also a call for the police to "level up" in their duties.
Bolanos, in a social media post Tuesday, said other measures can be done instead of burdening riders with "band-aid solutions" in light of the rash of crimes allegedly perpetrated by "riding-in-tandem" criminals.
Bolanos said different government agencies and the VACC have made suggestions anew which violate human rights.
Among these suggestions include registering helmets with the police and the barangay; wearing of white helmet only for riders-in-tandem; wearing of reflective vests indicating plate number of motorcycle; 30 kph speed limit; and prohibiting back riders altogether.
These suggestions came in the heels of the PNP's problem on criminality, and the burden should not be passed on to riders, Bolanos said.
Bolanos said in a statement:
"Ang iba't ibang sangay ng gobyerno ay nag papanukala ng mga panibagong batas na kumikitil na naman sa ating karapatang pangtao. Kasama dito ang suhestyon ng VACC na dagdagan na naman tayo ng pasanin tulad ng mga nilabanan namin ng mga nakaraang taon,"
"Hindi porket motorsiklo ang gamit ng mga kriminal, pwede na nila tayong limitahan, pagbintangan, tratuhin at pag pasanin na tila sankot tayo sa mga gawain ng mga hangal. Biktima din tayo tulad ng lahat ng kababayan natin dahil kaisa tayo ng publiko,"
"Tama na ang pag papadali ng trabaho. Oras na para gawin ang trabaho. Tama na ang pwede na yan. Oras na para ayusin yan."
According to Bolanos, they are ready to fight for their rights as citizens. --Source: ABS-CBN News