DAVAO CITY –– Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its “Clean Rider” campaign, voicing optimism that the system could thwart crimes, especially those perpetrated by motorcycle riders.
“I strongly believe we are now in a good fight against the modus of riding-in-tandem and other similar schemes,”‘ Mayor Sara said in a speech read by Councilor Mabel Acosta during the Davao City Police Office’s (DCPO) launch of the Clean Rider campaign on Wednesday.
She also expressed confidence that the program would result in zero motorcycle theft in the future. There were 20 cases of “motornapping” in the city in 2017.
Mayor Sara also called on all Dabawenyos to cooperate with the police and have their motorcycles enrolled in the Clean Rider system.
Senior Supt. Alexander Tagum, DCPO director, said the program “will make smaller the world of the criminals using motorcycles in their modus.”
He pointed out that each registered motorcycle will have identical stickers — one for the driver’s license and the other for the motorcycle itself — making it difficult for criminals to use stolen motorcycles.
While pointing out that the Clean Rider system is not mandatory, Tagum said criminals will think twice about using stolen units because inspections at checkpoints would be “time-consuming and inconvenient.”
The Clean Rider campaign is the brainchild of PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde as an anti-crime prevention initiative in collaboration with the Land Transportation Office and the Highway Patrol Group, he said.
Motorcycle owners wishing to enroll must fill up a form from the PNP and submit a photocopy of the original receipt, as well as the certificate of the motorcycle registration, and a photocopy of their driver’s license.
“We want all motorcycle owners to support the Clean Rider project for the good of everybody,” Tagum said in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the launch. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)
