SUPPRESSION OF CRIME COMMITTED BY RIDING IN TANDEM

PNP said cases involving criminals on motorbikes -- dubbed "riding-in-tandem" -- reached more
than 3,000 in 2013. This is alarming for this number is considerably higher compared to last
years stats.
A columnist which happens also to be a dean of a College of law once wrote that the criminal
use of riding-in-tandem is not unique to the Philippines. What comes to mind is a scene from
Godfather part III where Andy Garcia disguised as a policeman, while riding-in-tandem on a
horse, shoots Corleone family opponent Joey Zaza who was attending a religious procession.
Many countries in Latin America have had to deal with this problem.
Such statistics that cannot be ignored raises doubts as to the safety and security of the citizens
in the alleys or even main roads in towns and cities of our country.
It is also undeniable that even in our province, there are recorded crimes committed by criminals
riding in tandem. Cases are not isolated given the absence of a regulating law to motorcycle
riders; to cite some:

September 2011 : A bank cashier was shot while on board a car caught on heavy traffic
and robbed afterwards
November 11 2013 : A businesswoman was shot to death by armed riders-in-tandem in
front of her house in Barangay Poblacion Sur, Rizal, Nueva Ecija
July 2014: A police officer was shot in Cabiao Nueva Ecija while en route to a badminton
tournament
August 2014: A warden of the Nueva Ecija provincial jail was gunned down in an
ambush by two motorcycle-riding assassins
September 2014 : An incumbent barangay chairman and nephew of Board Member Pol
Interior was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding gunmen in San Leonardo, Nueva
Ecija

Factors such as availability, less restricted movement of riders, speed its size and flexibility in
traffic situations makes a motorcycle a perfect tool of criminal perpetrators in accomplishing
their acts.
The state, in order to prevent such use of motorcycles in crime, cannot do anything to modify
the aforementioned factors. However, it is not precluded by that fact. In riding a motorcycle,
there is a motorcycle and a rider. If the state cannot do anything on the motorcycle, the state
may impose limitations on the rider. For after all, the use and enjoyment of a property is subject
to limitations imposed by law.
Putting limitation to the riders of a motorcycle, which may to some extent limit the enjoyment of
the property of the owner, if done with the intent of protecting the citizenry by at least minimizing
the use of motorcycle in crime is reasonable and just. Salus populi est suprema lex.