TANAY, Rizal – Not even the almost zero-visibility in the upland portion of this lakeshore town could stop young speedoholics from turning Marilaque Highway into a racetrack.
“What was once a peaceful place has turned into a death magnet since illegal drag racing started here years ago. Yung mga motorcycle riders, dito nagpapasikat, nagpapakita ng stunt sa mga angkas nilang babae – unmindful of the dangers ng mga kurbada at bangin,” said a former government employee who has spent years in Tanay after retirement.
He said that he had already reported the proliferation of drag racing in the area last year to the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG).
He however noted that the organizer behind the illegal drag race is “so organized that it even has spotters on the lookout for the highway patrol cops.
“May mga look-out sila. Tumatawag kapag may parating na police mobile patrol car kaya madalas walang nahuhuli.”
Sometime in 2022, former PNP chief, General Rodolfo Azurin instructed the HPG to coordinate with Rizal Provincial Police Office, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and local government units to come up with a plan that would put an end to illegal drag racing in the area.
Many drag-racing activities are known to be taking place in many highways in the country including some parts of Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Central Luzon region specifically during the wee hours of the day when most of the people are already sleeping.
In Marilaque Highway however, speedoholics race to death in broad daylight.
Marilaque Highway connects Metro Manila, Rizal and Quezon Province.
On November 5 this year, four young men on board a car were killed in what police claimed was illegal drag racing along Marcos Highway in Antipolo City.
The police reported that a sedan slammed into the back of a truck. Both vehicles were in the same lane when the speeding black Honda Civic allegedly lost control and collided with the left rear of the truck.
Dead on the spot were the car driver identified as 22-year-old Juanito Magsino and three passengers: 21-year-old Kidrock Magsino, 21-year-old Lawrence Ivan Jose, and 22-year-old Ireneo Balmonte.
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