THE breakdown of peace and order in our streets is again palpable, with just a year after former President Rodrigo Duterte’s shoot-to-kill rhetoric against criminals, and actual blood and flesh spilt in the streets in pursuance of his controversial war on drugs.
Riding-in-tandem attacks have occurred again in Metro Manila and elsewhere in the provinces, clearly a source of embarrassment for newly appointed chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Gen. Benjamin Acorda.
In Lucena City, going the rounds in coffee shop talks is the morbid joke that accompanying your young children to school is bad for your health — or specifically, your life.
This was after two fathers were gunned down in broad daylight, both by riding-in-tandem killers, in two shooting incidents on Tuesday, May 9 and Wednesday, May 10. Ironically, the two were slain while performing the fatherly duty of bringing their children to school.
‘This requirement, which might help witnesses to identify criminals, is so risky for riders that senators are thinking of amending the law and requiring only one license plate at the back of the two-wheel vehicle.’
In the first incident, Michael Garcia, 43, of Purok Dama de Noche, Barangay Mayao Castillo, was driving his tricycle in Purok Central when two motorcycle-riding men gave chase and shot him several times, hitting also his daughter. Both victims died while another daughter in the vehicle survived the attack.
The girl, Mara, was hit by two stray bullets on the left side of her chest and waist. She was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival by doctors. Garcia sustained bullet wounds on his right chest, left abdomen and right leg, and died on the spot. Witnesses said the gunmen fled toward the direction of Pagbilao town.
The second victim who died on May 10 was Dennis Amat, 48, a resident of Barangay Ibabang Iyam. He was traveling back home along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Isabang at 7 a.m. Wednesday after bringing his kid to school when he was shot eight times by two unidentified gunmen, also on board a motorcycle. Three of the eight bullets fired hit his head.
The attack was caught in a security camera of one of the homes nearby, but the footage was too far away from the camera that you cannot distinguish the faces of the attackers.
Witnesses said the gunmen, riding a black motorcycle, fled toward the direction of the town of Sariaya.
These riding-in-tandem attacks remind us that we have the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act or Republic Act 11235 which specifically lays down the law on motorcycle possession, registration, and use especially as it relates to illegal activities.
The law mandates the Lands Transportation Office (LTO) to provide big license plates for motorcycles in front, at the back, and at the side, that can be seen and read from a distance of 15 meters.
This requirement, which might help witnesses to identify criminals, is so risky for riders that senators are thinking of amending the law and requiring only one license plate at the back of the two-wheel vehicle.
It is also time for the PNP, LTO and the congressional oversight committee to assess the implementation and effectiveness of this law, even as the police conduct their usual anti-crime operations.
