DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 21 (PNA) -– The City Council of Dumaguete will tackle in its regular session Wednesday separate but similar measures prohibiting the wearing of various types of cover that would hide the identity of motorcycle riders.
Councilor Franklin Esmeña, Jr., a member of the City Council, is proposing an ordinance prohibiting the wearing of masks, bonnets and all other similar items that would conceal the identity of motorcycle riders plying the streets of this capital city of Negros Oriental.
Esmeña, a lawyer, said in a telephone interview Tuesday evening that he will be submitting for first reading on Wednesday, during the council’s regular session “The Anti-Bonnet Ordinance” which also pushes for the protection of the lives and property of Dumagueteños.
According to Esmeña, he saw the need to introduce such ordinance in the wake of the recent spate of killings in Dumaguete City, perpetrated mostly by suspects riding in tandem on motorcycles with their faces covered.
For this month alone, the city police reported five shooting incidents within the first two weeks, with two of the five victims shot dead.
Esmeña said his proposed ordinance excludes full-faced helmets, unlike a similar ordinance which was earlier authored and introduced by Councilor Antonio Remollo.
That measure, entitled “An Ordinance Prohibiting The Use of Bonnets of Full Face Shield Crash Helmet or Items of Similar Nature That Cover the Face or Otherwise Hide the Identity of a Person Within the City of Dumaguete and Providing Penalties Thereto” will also be reintroduced by Councilor Remollo on Wednesday.
Remollo’s ordinance failed to pass although it was deliberated by the city council due to opposition to the prohibition in the use of full-face crash helmets.
According to Esmeña, he was also against Remollo’s ordinance because the use of a full-face helmet is “constitutionally enshrined” with people having the right to self protection.
His ordinance, on the other hand, excludes crash helmets and caps, hats and similar head gear but would include bonnets, masks, towels, t-shirts or similar items that would cover the faces of motorcycle riders, he added. (PNA)