Pasay cops set up checkpoint to catch drag racers

MANILA, Philippines – The Pasay police has set up a checkpoint along Macapagal Boulevard near EDSA to monitor and arrest those engaged in drag-racing in the area.

Senior Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, Pasay police chief, said at least two policemen were deployed, but noted that “drag racing activities are much frequent in Parañaque compared to Pasay. However, there are those (who) already reach Macapagal Boulevard while engaged in drag racing. We are making sure that their actions are monitored and that they are caught.”

In a recent operation, two drag racers were arrested and given traffic violation tickets while their motorcycles were impounded at the police station.

Police said that to effectively curb drag racing, stricter laws on this should be implemented. Under Presidential Decree 1602, the law against illegal gambling, car racing is considered illegal if money or valuables are at stake.

But there is reportedly no law that addresses the problem of illegal racing of motorcycles and ordinary scooters. – Rhodina Villanueva