Bill on 'Anti-Kamote Driving' filed in House

A bill was filed in the House of Representatives seeking to protect innocent drivers from unjust detention during road accidents. 

In Tina Panganiban-Perez’s report in “24 Oras” on Friday, the “Anti-Kamote” Driver bill proposes that anyone involved in road accidents can be saved from being detained provided that one can provide evidence, like dash cam recording or CCTV footage,  that he is not at fault. 

“Kamote drivers” are referred to as reckless road users. 

“As somebody who has experienced that, sobrang unfair din, no? Na tayo, nag-iingat tayo, and yet people out there, parang balewala lang sa kanila yung safety nila tsaka ng ibang tao,” said Davao Oriental Representative Cheeno Almario. 

(As someone who has experienced that, it’s unfair. While we are being careful, and yet there are people out there who don’t care about their safety and other people.) 

Meanwhile, motorists have different opinions on the proposal. 

“Mas maigi kung ganun, kung mapapawalang sala yung mga nadadamay lang,” a motorcycle driver said. 

(This is good, especially it can bail out those were not at fault.)

“Hindi naman lahat ng nakabangga eh may kasalanan eh,” another driver lamented. 

(Not everyone involved in a road accident is at fault.) 

However, the proposed measure did not state who would decide on whether to detain a driver or not. This will be discussed in an upcoming hearing, the report said. 

While it supports the intention of the bill, 1-Rider partyl-ist noted that it’s the judiciary that has the power to amend the present system. 

”Ang opinion ko po dapat yung Supreme Court po. Kasi sila po yung may rules of procedure […] Wala pong power yung legislative to impose upon them kung ano po yung magiging procedure nila,” said Rep. Ramon Gutierrez. 

(My opinion is that the Supreme Court should be the one to decide. Because they have the rules of procedure […] The legislative does not have the power to impose upon them on what will be their procedure.) 

The Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) also questioned if there is really a need for such a law if it’s up to the court whether to detain a driver or not. 

“Do we really need a new law? The police already have the power and discretion. Any new law will not neutralize the ‘SOP’ of passing the issue to the fiscal and courts,” said Robby Consunji of the AAP.

The group added that the police also have the power to investigate anyone involved in an accident.—Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News