The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) is eyeing numbered helmets as one of the measures to deter criminalities perpetrated by motorcycle-riding suspects in the city.

The recommendation came from ICPO director, Police Col. Uldarico Garbanzos, following the killing of a 19-year old son of a town councilor by a motorcycle-riding suspect last April 3 in Barangay Tagbak, Jaro district.

Garbanzos said the measure will also give the policemen an easy way to identify the rider suspect/s if there are crimes committed.

In an interview over Aksyon Radyo Iloilo, Garbanzos said it is usually difficult to identify the riding-in-tandem suspects since they are wearing helmet and face masks as well with the ongoing pandemic.

The city director explained that there should be a database of all the riders and respective helmet numbers.

Garbanzos already relayed this proposal to City Councilor Carlos Javellana, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Committee on Police Matters.

Aside from numbered helmets, the ICPO is also proposing for the establishment of “toll gates” in all entry and exit points in the city.

It must be equipped with closed circuit television cameras for facial recognition of the drivers.

Garbanzos also suggested that all vehicles must be equipped with video cameras which can help the authorities if there are crimes and other incidents.

All of these proposals will also be presented to the SP for possible crafting of ordinance.

Javellana, meanwhile, is not amenable to Garbanzos’ suggestions especially the installation of “toll gates” as this will cause inconvenience among individuals and businesses.

Video cameras, meantime, will be an added burden to the motorists if they will made mandatory, Javellana opined.

As to the numbered helmets, this can be discussed further with the Land Transportation Office and the ICPO./WDJ