Cabal orders strict enforcement of Helmet Law, tells cops to lead by example

Two cops were spotted on board a motorcycle without helmets in Tagbilaran City in March, 2018. The photo went viral over social media and resulted in an investigation by the Bohol Provincial Police Office.

Newly installed Bohol Provincial Police Office director Colonel Jonathan Cabal on Monday reiterated the BPPO’s standing mandate to fully enforce the Motorcycle Helmet Act, and said that he expects police officers to lead by example and observe the law as well.

Cabal, in a brief address after the BPPO’s first flag-raising ceremony under his leadership at Camp Francisco Dagohoy, said that promoting public safety is part of the police’s job and that the enforcement of the helmet law has been a personal advocacy for him since he was the police chief of Muñoz City in Nueva Ecija way back in 2011.

“When I was the chief of police of Muñoz City in Nueva Ecija, yun ang naging advocacy ko because I have personnel friends, na yung isa inaanak ko pa sa kasal, they died because of motorcycle accidents for not wearing helmets, nagkaroon ng brain hemorrhage,” said Cabal.

“Had those people worn their helmets probably they’d be alive right now,” he added.

According to Cabal, the measure would also keep safe the slew of tourists who rent motorcycles to go around the province. The new police director, during his installment law week, said that boosting tourism security is among his top priorities.

Cabal also called on policemen to observe the same law and other vehicle policies including having in their possession their driver’s license and vehicle registration when driving motorcycles.

“We should be the epitome of following the law, the rules, and the procedures. Otherwise, if we will be violating these, people will be observing policemen not wearing helmets, may masasabi sila. Public confidence will go down,” he said.

In 2018, the BPPO drew flak after several policemen were seen riding motorcycles without helmets in Tagbilaran City, Cortes and Loboc, less than a month after the local police implemented the strict enforcement of the Motorcycle Helmet Act.

Photos of the policemen were taken and spread over social media.

Then-police director Col. Angeles Geñorga personally addressed the issue as he called for an investigation on the cases. (R. Tutas)