Palace on ‘Doble-Plaka Act’: Duterte may have been misled

Malacañang said that President Duterte may have been misled into believing that the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act will put the lives of the riders in danger.

Presidential Spokespman Salvador Panelo made the statement after Duterte said over the weekend that he is looking to suspending the implementation of the controversial law because of the danger a front plate brings to the riders.

In his Monday press briefing, Panelo echoed the sentiment of Senator Richard Gordon that Duterte may have been fed with the wrong information about the law which the President signed last month.

"Perhaps, as pointed out by Senator Gordon, he must have been misled into believing that the putting of the plaka, yung (putting the) plate, it will endanger the rider, when in fact he said it's not even a plaka (plate), it's a decal, a sticker," he said.

According to the Palace official, Duterte may decide on whether or not to proceed with the suspension of the implementation of the law after he gets to meet with Gordon to talk about certain provisions of the measure.

"There is an order to suspend. Whether or not it will continue will have to depend on the President," he said.

According to Panelo, Duterte signed the law because of the idea that it will protect the general public and curb criminality. However, over the weekend, the President expressed that the law may not be as effective because of wise criminals.

"Ang sinasabi lang ni Presidente, ang gagaling natin pero mukhang gumagaling din itong mga kriminal. So subukan muna natin (What the President is saying is criminals are also becoming wiser. So let's try it for now)," he said.

"Kung hindi mag-succeed, kung nandoon pa rin yung riding-in-tandem, 'di panibago na naman tayong (If it does not succeed and there are still criminals using motorcycles, then)... Let's craft another law to respond to that situation," he added.