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AMID VIRAL 'SUPERMAN' STUNTS

JV Ejercito: Place permanent checkpoints in Marilaque Highway


Senator JV Ejercito on Thursday called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units in Rizal to establish a permanent checkpoint in Marilaque to prevent accidents in the area.

“I would like to appeal on the the PNP and to the local government na gawing permanent na doon yung nagbabantay para matigil na yung ano doon sa Marilaque, yung accidents,” the lawmaker said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

(To establish permanent checkpoints to prevent accidents in Marilaque.)

“Marilaque is ginagamit na playground kasi nga maganda. Yung mga coffee shops and restaurants, 'yan na po ang number 1 tourism destinations ng Rizal, yung Marilaque. Nauso yung pagiging 'superman' doon,” added Ejercito, who is also a motorcycle enthusiast.

(Marilaque has turned into a playground because its good features. There are a lot of coffee shops and restaurants that have become the number 1 tourist destinations of Rizal— Marilaque. It's very trendy to perform 'Superman stunts' there.) 

The senator was alluding to a dangerous stunt performed by motorcycle riders who would lie prone on their vehicles while it is moving at high speed.

On Tuesday, the Highway Patrol Group said there are five road sections along the scenic road where motorcycle riders perform exhibitions,presenting authorities with a challenge in chasing after them. These road sections include the so-called "Devil's Corner" in the town of Tanay, where most of these riders congregate.

The HPG noted that one accident occurs along the Marilaque Highway daily. In January alone, 13 accidents have been recorded.

According to Ejercito, he has not been to Marilaque in the last two years due to the reported accidents.

“Actually I voiced this out already. Nagsabi na ako sa PNP, sa Rizal officials nag-lagay naman na sila ng checkpoints, sa areas na kailangan kaso nagtuloy-tuloy pa rin e. Actually we also had make Marilaque safe before kaya lang nagbalik na naman,” he said. 

(I told the PNP that the Rizal officials have already set up checkpoints in the needed areas, but the riders still go there and perform stunts. We also launched 'Make Marilaque Safe,' but accidents are happening again.)

Ejercito hopes the PNP and the LGUs can devise a solution to prevent such accidents in the area.

“So hopefully, talagang mawala na yung mga nagka-karera, nagpe-perform ng stunts. Sayang kasi, Marilaque is so beautiful. Masarap sana mag bisikleta diyan, natatakot na rin akong pumunta doon. Maraming drivers na natatakot doon becasue of these individuals that are making… na ginagawa siya race track and performing stunts. Nagulat nga kao dun sa 'Superman', ba't nauso yan,” he added.

(So hopefully, those who use the area for races and perform stunts would disappear. It's a shame because Marilaque is so beautiful. It would be nice to ride a bicycle there, but now I'm afraid to go there too. Many drivers have become scared because of these individuals who have turned it into a race track and perform stunts. I was surprised with these 'Superman' stunts, why they became popular.)

Meanwhile, fellow senator Bato Dela Rosa expressed his support for tightening the security and monitoring on the Marilaque Highway.

"It's about time that the Highway Patrol Group of the PNP tightens its grip along the whole stretch of the Marilaque Highway with the support, of course, of the local police and the LGUs," he said. 
—RF, GMA Integrated News