Manila

A rise in crimes perpetrated by criminals using motorcycles has forced authorities in one Metro Manila suburb to ban pillion riders unless the driver can prove that the passenger is a close relative.

According to Mayor Benhur Abalos of Mandaluyong City, starting in September, motorcyclists carrying passengers and using the city’s roads would be apprehended and penalised unless they can show proof that the individual or the persons is closely related to them by blood.

Under the ban, drivers who fail to show convincing proof that they are relatives with the passenger could be sentenced to serve up to six months in prison if they commit the offence for the third time.

He said only relatives of first degree of consanguinity (husband and wife, father and children, son and mother etc) are allowed to ride together.

Abalos said the measure is part of the city’s efforts to eradicate so-called “riding in tandem” crimes.

Mandaluyong City is located in the middle of Metro Manila, thus, it is a veritable crossroads for motorists transiting other locales in the metropolis.

According to Abalos, records of the Philippine National Police (PNP) paint an alarming statistic.

In an interview aired by the ABS-CBN News, he said that from January to May 2013 there were 249 incidents involving criminals riding in tandem in Metro Manila. In January to May 2014, this went up to 561 — reflecting a 125.3 per cent rise.

According to the Land Transportation Office, their office handles over 1,000 vehicle registrations per day and more than half of these, involved motorcycles.

There are a total 6.4 million registered vehicles nationwide.

Pillion or piggy-back riding is a common practice in the Philippines, a country where travel by motorised to wheel transport is prevalent.

Sharing a motorcycle is a quick and affordable way to get around.

In recent years however, the PNP has said that pillion riding is being used commonly by felons to carry out crimes which individual riders would have difficulty performing.

According to the PNP, most crimes carried out by riding in pillion-riding criminals are robberies (73.8 per cent), as well as shootings (27.27 per cent)

Various schemes to prevent riding in tandem crimes have been proposed over the years, but most of these measures have been resisted by motorcycle rider groups, who are backed by motorcycle manufacturers, and were eventually not adopted by the government.