SEN. Ronald dela Rosa has called on the government to consult with public safety and road experts to get their insights on how to put an end to road accidents along the Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon highway.
At a hearing on Monday of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on the proposed Magna Carta for the PNP, Dela Rosa said motorcycle riders take advantage of the racetrack-like features of Marilaque Highway to test their riding skills but a large number of them figure in accidents.
“Ang dami nang mga namatay na mga tila nag-e-exhibition na riders to the detriment not only of themselves kundi pati na rin ‘yung ibang riding public who are after safety,” Dela Rosa said. “Pati bystanders’ at pedestrians’ lives are endangered by these people who seem to be… I don’t know. For content purposes, ginagawa nila ito sa social media? (Numerous lives have been lost since some riders do stunts not only to their detriment but also to the riding public. Even bystanders’ and pedestrians’ lives are endangered by these people. [Are they doing this] For content purposes on social media sites?)” Dela Rosa said.
He added: “We don’t care whatever their (riders) motives are. What is important is we restore order along the national highway in Marilaque to prevent future accidents.”
A motorcycle rider himself, Dela Rosa said he also passes along Marilaque Highway but aired his disappointment on “kamote” (reckless) riders who disregard the safety of others to show off their riding stunts.
“Isipin mo nasa national highway ka, mag-Superman ka…Parang Superman ka na lumilipad na wala nang control dahil ‘yung paa mo nasa malayo. These are reckless forms of riding. Ito ang dapat bantay ninyo dahil ito talaga ang nagko-cause ng aksidente (Think about it — you are on a national highway and you will perform a Superman stunt where you lose control of the motorcycle. These are reckless forms of riding. Authorities should focus on these types of riders because they are the main cause of accidents),” he said.
Dela Rosa also urged Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta, the director of the PNP-Highway Patrol Group who was also at the hearing, to address the problem.
He said the HPG should work double time to prevent such riders from displaying stunts, otherwise the public would think the PNP is poor in enforcing the law.
Too many accidents have occurred along Marilaque Highway and people are wondering why law enforcement is poor in that area, the senator noted.