Dumaguete PNP resets Clean Rider drive launch to Aug. 1

DUMAGUETE CITY — The simultaneous nationwide launching of the PNP Clean Rider campaign was reset to August 1, although the Police Regional Office-7 Team was already set to start it last Friday (July 27) in Dumaguete City.

Despite the resetting of the schedule, a lot of motorists made inquiries today on how to avail themselves of the Clean Rider” project of PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde.

Superintendent Jonathan Pineda, chief of the Dumaguete City Police, explained that the Clean Rider campaign is aimed at documenting and disciplining motorists, as well as to account all motorcycles with their respective real owners.

Under the campaign, motorists shall fill up a registration form, with 2 x 2 picture of the applicant, and submit for recording the make, engine number, chassis number, plate number, and year model of the motorcycle; the complete owner’s name and his or her occupation; certificate of registration; and driver’s license of the owner.

Pineda said the police will also check on the accessories of the motorcycle before it can be issued a Clean Rider sticker, which has a serial number in it, similar to the one attached to the driver’s license of the owner, for easy identification.

With the Clean Rider sticker, it is understood that the motorcycle and the owner had undergone the process and considered legitimate, but it does not preclude the police to flag them when they look suspicious at a check point because of the possibility the rider may not be the real owner of the motorcycle, or possibly the motorcycle is carnapped at the time.

For this reason, the Dumaguete Police is coordinating with rent-abike shops in Dumaguete for them to also fill up the registration form, in line with the Clean Rider purpose.

Meanwhile, the Police Advisory Council (PAC) in last Friday’s meeting, presided by Dr. Henry Sojor, has approved a resolution requesting the city government for funding support to reproduce counter stickers exclusively for use by the city police.

The counter stickers will determine if the motorcycle involved, flagged down or has committed violations is from Dumaguete, Pineda said, adding that these will also determine the number of motorcycles plying the city streets, and how many are from the city.

On the use of helmets, which is mandatory under existing national laws, Pineda said the police will be guided accordingly by existing city ordinances that full-faced helmets are not allowed, citing crime incidents where the culprits usually wear this kind of helmets to avoid identification. —