Lapu’s face-cover ban started in 2009

The Mandaue City ordinance banning bonnets and other garments that cover the face of a motorcycle driver and passenger has recently caused noise on social media.

Citizens posted comments on the issue, including those who are not from Mandaue City.

But before the city ordinance of Mandaue, a similar ordinance was passed in Lapu-Lapu City nine years ago.

The ordinance, sponsored by former city councilor Eduardo Cuizon, banned the “use and wear of tinted helmets, bonnets and face masks” to cover the identity of the motorcycle driver and the passenger.

The Lapu-Lapu City Council passed the ordinance because of an alarming number of incidents involving riding-in-tandem criminals who wore tinted helmets and bonnets in 2009. City Ordinance 206-2009 was approved last May 25, 2009.

“All motorcycle drivers and back riders are prohibited, disallowed and banned to wear and use tinted helmets, bonnets and masks to cover and hide their identities when driving within the jurisdiction of the City of Lapu-Lapu,” the ordinance read.

“Drivers and back riders wear- ing and using masks and bonnets to prevent inhaling dusts because of medical condition must present a medical record to justify their intention,” it further stated.

The traffic enforcer will warn a violator for the first offense. For the second offense, a citation ticket will be issued with a fine of P500. The fine will go up to P750 and P1,000 for the third and fourth offenses.

Violators who fail to pay their fines after three consecutive offenses will be charged with a criminal case.

This month, the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office- Homicide Section recorded six persons killed in shooting incidents involving assailants riding motorcycles. Following these incidents, an official of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office believed that the implementation of the ordinance can help authorities to identity the culprits.

Police Insp. Judith Besas, deputy chief for operation of LCPO, said that it would be better if this will be strictly implemented.

Members of the City Traffic Management System of LapuLapu underwent a two-day training conducted by the LCPO-Traffic Enforcement Unit last Thursday and Friday.