So I had 2 lovely nights in Subic and was showing a visitor around on his first ever trip to the PI. We had a good time.

This morning, 1115am we left Drydens and were heading back to Angeles. We got about 1/2 mile from Drydens and there was a police checkpoint. We've all seen them and it's basically all the same: A fleecing for money!

We were asked to pull over and they checked drivers licenses and registrations. I own both bikes and the paperwork is all in order. We were handed back the paperwork and told it was OK to go. Another officer then walked over to my buddy and I and said we were not wearing the proper attire. Yes, you heard it...not wearing the proper attire to ride a motorbike.

Specifically we were told that:

1- Helmets have to be 1/2 face helmets minimum
2- We had to wear leather boots
3- While my shirt was OK, my friends "Shirt was not approved"
4- We were to have on safety goggles (under a half faced helmet??!! haha)

A bit of communication ensued and he showed it to me in a memo he had in a clipboard. Another 5-10 minutes of communication and my making a phone call and we were finally told "it's ok, you're free to go" after they overheard my phone conversation.

I did a report before on my ride to Subic where I was stopped and harassed MULTIPLE times during the ride on the tollway. It's completely and totally out of control. It is a very serious deterrent to tourism and is completely harmful to the local economy and people. This was not a good impression or experience for my friend who was with me. He's on his first visit here and being that this is now my home, I was embarassed that this happened as well.

If you are reading this and specifically you own a business in Subic, I would escalate this issue to local people of influence that can make a change. Situations like this DO effect business and being that this is now my 2nd time being harassed on my ride to Subic, i can't say I'm real excited to make the ride again (although I will!).

If Philippines values Tourism, this has got to stop.

Mark

Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China ganyan din po, ewan kung bakit?

sad to say but this is true....mahirap talaga ang lagay ng mga nagmomotor ngayon tayo kasi ang nakikita ng mga tiwaling pulis na madaling gatasan...

It is the attitude of being selfish and taking advantage over others that has brought this about...

People seem to think that they can easily get away with this...

I'd like to get more details on this incident and if possible some names...

Then if we can get a sworn statement from the people who are involved, we can then write a letter to their superiors about it...

This is really getting out of hand and has to stop...

sad to hear that but it's true.

even us locals, are constantly being "milked" by our ever-hungry authorities and it is a clear deterrent to local tourists as well.

what happened to the "makisaya, byahe tayo" of our tourism authority?

So are any of the local people going to do anything about this or is it just an "acceptance" thing??

I leave tomorrow going from Pampanga through Subic, 100 islands, LaUnion and baguio. I have every plan of making a video anytime I get stopped. And, I'm going to upload it to YOUTUBE and forward copies to every government site here in the Philippines as well as my embassy.

Sir,

If you read back on my post, I was asking for the full details and a sworn statement on the incident that happened so that I may post a formal inquiry and complaint with the main department as to who these people at the check point belong to...

Also, as chairman of MRO (Motorcycle Rights Organization), it falls upon our group's responsibility to document this and report this to the proper agency so that we may seek action against these ill mannered officers...

The sworn statements has to be notarized so that I may be able to back it up with the people I pass my complaint to...

I'm sure the people from the DOT, PNP, and LTO would require me to show such... And I would like to have something to slap their faces with...

Thanks for that. Sadly, I didn't take names at the scene at all.

I'm starting a very long ride tomorrow and if I encounter the same type of harassment I'll be sure and take not only names but video each time i get stopped. I'll keep you posted......

Thanks again,
Mark

Nakakasad naman ang ganun, People will do anything para lng makuha ang gusto nila.Di nila alam nakaka affect cla sa progress ng bansa natin or my progress nga ba ? hays, sana ung new batch ng Law enforcer, Highway patrol at any other organization concerning about this eh mag bago na. :(

Hay naku, with that circumstance, talagang nakakahiya.

My sincerest apologies to that foreign friend of yours.

I too am hoping that someday, maybe, our country will be off for the better.