Daily patrols to curb fatal stunts on Marilaque Highway - senators

Metro Manila, Philippines - Police should patrol the Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon (Marilaque) Highway daily to prevent more deaths from riders treating the winding roads as a playground, Senator and motorcycle enthusiast JV Ejercito said on Thursday, Jan. 30.

“Dapat talagang on a daily basis, maglagay na ng substation doon or parade checkpoint [There should really be a substation or a mobile checkpoint set up there on a daily basis],” Ejercito said during the Kapihan sa Senado media forum.

“Pag may checkpoint kasi umaayos naman sila e. Hindi nila ginagawang race track [When there’s a checkpoint, they behave. They don’t turn it into a race track],” he added.

He said the recent viral fatal crash of two riders was proof of insufficient deployment of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP HPG) in the area.

“Ang nangyari kasi sa HPG random, hindi araw-araw, basta sumisipot, may mga araw. Pero kung gagawin na talagang permanent and then put some other measures… at least magiging safe na,” Ejercito said.

[Translation: What happened with the HPG is that it's random, not daily - sometimes they show up, sometimes they don't. But if it becomes permanent and other measures are put in place, at least it will be safer.]

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, supports the idea.

“It’s about time that the Highway Patrol Group of the PNP tightens its grip along the whole stretch of the Marilaque highway with the support of course of the local police and the LGUs,” Dela Rosa said in a text message.

In a viral video this week, two motorcycle riders were seen performing the "superman stunt" on the Marilaque Highway, resulting in one death.

The Land Transportation Office said it has teamed up with the PNP HPG and Tanay, Rizal police to increase police presence and strengthen efforts against traffic violators in the area.