The Department of the Interior and Local Government-Cordillera reminded local government units to establish impounding centers for motorcycles purportedly used in the commission of crimes or offenses.
DILG-Cordillera Director Araceli A. San Jose reiterated Section 10 of Republic Act 11235 or the “Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act” directing provincial, city, and municipal governments to allocate land and consequently establish a secure impounding center for the implicated motor vehicles that shall be under the supervision of the Philippine National Police.
“It is imperative that these facilities are in place in our LGUs to aid law enforcement agencies to ensure that evidence will not be tampered with throughout the course of the investigation,” San Jose said.
RA 11235 stipulates that a motorcycle used in the commission of a crime or offense shall be impounded by the PNP as evidence in “custodia legis” (custody of the law) in these LGU-owned facilities until the termination of the case.
San Jose tasked the LGUs to develop and maintain a database for all impounded and released motorcycles that shall be shared with the PNP, through the Police Regional Office-Cordillera, and the Land Transportation Office’s Operations and Control Center for appropriate monitoring.
“We have directed our field operating units to ensure the compliance of our LGUs to the relevant provisions of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act. We need to uphold the end of this act to deter motorcycle-aided and related crimes in the region,” San Jose said. – Press release
