110 back riders arrested in Mandaluyong

MANILA, Philippines - At least 110 back riders were arrested in Mandaluyong City yesterday, the first day enforcers are implementing a new ordinance banning two unrelated men from riding the same motorcycle.

Ordinance 550 exempts females and children aged seven to 10 from the back rider ban, which aims to reduce the number of crimes perpetrated by motorcycle-riding criminals, according to Jimmy Isidro, the city’s public information officer.

“The motorcycle drivers were given five days to redeem their drivers’ license. Once they failed to do so, we will file charges of violation of the said ordinance against them before the prosecutor’s office,” Superintendent Cresencio Landicho, city police deputy chief, said in an interview.

He said they set up 16 checkpoints starting at midnight yesterday and as of 2 p.m. issued tickets to at least 110 back riders, two of whom were caught with handguns.

Drivers are fined P1,000 for the first offense, while the second and third offenses calls for a P2,000 and P3,000 fine, respectively.  

A fourth offense means three months’ imprisonment.