Criminals in helmets alarm authorities

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — Provincial officials have left it to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and other law enforcement agencies to decide on the concern that the use of whole-face helmets is now favoring criminals.

Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II admitted it has been alarming already that criminals have exploited Republic Act 10054, or the Motorcycle Helmet Act, to hide their identities.

Even the TaRSIER 117 team, monitoring the CCTV cameras installed in strategic areas of the city, attested that it is really impossible to identify the person wearing helmet, either stationary or traveling, he said.      

During the monthly meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) recently, the provincial officials noted that in most shooting incidents and robberies in various parts of Bohol, the perpetrators were using whole-face helmets, making it hard for the witnesses and the victims to identify them.

Aside from complaints on the prices of standard helmets and the penalties being exorbitant, the motorists objected also against the implementation of the law on helmets because of the discomfort of wearing it while mobile.

Damalerio noted that there had been objections from the public, but the helmet law went into a thorough consultation process and that as a national law it would always prevail over local measures.

It is supposedly intended to protect the motorcycle-riders from severe head injuries in road accidents, but there is also a need to address the concerns on helmet-wearing criminals, said Damalerio, adding that it will be better now to invite LTO officials to a meeting to resolve this matter.

On the other hand, the PPOC created the Task Force Robbery and solicited the cooperation of the people to immediately report any suspicious persons in their neighborhood, while the police already asked the assistance of the military intelligence units to track down members of robbery syndicates and "local boys" as well. — (FREEMAN)