ILOILO City – Numbered helmets is one of the measures being eyed by the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) to deter motorcycle-riding criminals.
The recommendation came from ICPO Director Police Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos following the killing of the 19-year-old lad by a motorcycle-riding gunman on April 3 in Barangay Tagbak, Jaro district.
In an interview over DYOK Aksyon Radyo Iloilo, Garbanzos said it is difficult to identify riding-in-tandem suspects since they are wearing helmets and facemasks.
There should be a database on all riders and this should contain, among others, their respective helmet numbers.
Garbanzos relayed this proposal to Councilor Carlos Javellana, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on police matters.
Aside from numbered helmets, the ICPO is also proposing the establishment of “toll gates” in all entry and exit points in the city.
These must be equipped with closed-circuit television cameras for facial recognition of drivers.
Garbanzos also suggested that all vehicles be equipped with video cameras.
All proposals will also be presented to the city council.
Javellana, meanwhile, was not amenable to Garbanzos’ suggestions, especially the installation of “toll gates”.
This would only cause inconvenience to individuals and businesses, the councilor stressed.
Videos cameras, meantime, would be an added burden to motorists if these are made mandatory, he added.
As to the numbered helmets, this can be discussed further with the Land Transportation Office and the ICPO./PN
