Mandaluyong gov’t asks court to junk plea vs back rider ban

MANILA, Philippines - The Mandaluyong City government has asked the court to dismiss the petitions filed by two groups questioning the implementation of an ordinance banning motorcycle riders not related to the driver.

City legal officer Jeffrey Omadto filed a motion asking Judge Carlos Valenzuela of the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court Branch 213 to junk the appeal filed by the Motorcycle Rights Organization and the Arangkada Riders Alliance.

The court had denied the groups’ request for a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction.

Ordinance 550, passed by the city council and implemented by Mayor Benhur Abalos in September, aims to reduce the number of crimes perpetrated by criminals on motorcycles.

Under the ordinance, only spouses, parents and siblings are allowed to be with the motorcycle driver.

Violators are fined P1,000 for the first offense and P2,000 for the second offense. The third offense would mean a fine of P3,000 plus a jail term of three months.

City officials expressed hope that the court would grant their motion to dismiss the twin petitions.

Police records showed that not a single crime involving motorcycle-riding men was recorded in Mandaluyong during the first month of implementation of the ordinance.

The ordinance has received opposition from motorcycle riders’ groups. They said that instead of implementing such a measure, the local government should increase police visibility.