Press Release
May 8, 2020

GORDON CONDEMNS MURDER OF DUMAGUETE RADIO JOURNALIST, URGES LTO ANEW TO IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT MOTORCYCLE CRIME PREVENTION LAW

Senator Richard J. Gordon reiterated on Thursday the urgent need to implement Republic Act No. 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Law following the assassination of 48-year old radio reporter Rex Cornelio Pepino, who was shot dead Tuesday afternoon in Barangay Daro, Dumaguete City by unidentified riding-in-tandem hitmen.

Gordon, the principal author of the law, once again called on the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to come up with its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) so that the law, that aims to secure the public from crimes committed using motorcycles, can be implemented right away.

"This is yet another case of remorseless murder committed by riding-in-tandem assassins. This is very much appalling especially that we are currently facing a pandemic. This brutal act should stop at once so again, I urge the LTO to release the IRR and implement the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Law now," he said.

With R.A. 11235, using bigger, readable and color-coded plates will be enforced so that the number plates of motorcycles used in crimes can be easily identified and the use of stolen license plates can be prevented.

Pepino is the third journalist killed in Dumaguete City. The crime happened five days after a coronavirus lockdown in Negros Oriental was downgraded to a general community quarantine.

According to Gordon's office's news monitoring, there are 75 victims of riding-in-tandem crimes as of January 1 to May 7 this year. Forty-three (43) of which are civilians.

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