Prologue:
Starting point for the Freedom Riders Cavite & Las Piñas Chapter is at SYM Nyog 7am. A brief meeting was conducted the night before to discuss the requirements of each rider to be able to join. A strict implementation of rider attire and motorcycle compliance was agreed upon. This means all motorcycles must have proper side mirrors, full fairings and working lights. Each rider must have a DOT/SNELL certified full face helmet as a minimum requirement. No children, as backrides, are allowed.
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I arrived at the meeting place by 6:30am. By 7:30am, we are only 20 riders. Distribution of colored ribbons as a control system was given out by me before we ride out. (Later that same hour, it wasn’t much help because I ran out of ribbons. I didn’t expect that so many riders would come.) We rode out at 8am knowing we are only a handful. Upon reaching the intersection of Talaba and Saint Dominic Hospital, we saw a huge crowd of bikers at Tropical Hut just along the highway. We quickly turned back. (at the corner of my eye before making a U-turn at Talaba, I saw a Cavite enforcer booming on the radio. I briefly heared that they are coming. A spy? Hmmmm….)

We told everyone that we are spearheading a Freedom Ride to Coastal. They too are participating for the event. They are composed of almost all the motorcycle groups here in Cavite and most of Las Pinas. I quickly noticed that a lot of bikes are incomplete (no side mirrors, side mirrors that are smaller than your thumb). Some are wearing bullcap-type helmets and some, no helmets at all. And the worst part is one biker has two passengers (one of his passenger is his child). These are weeded out. I compromised with the bikes with no side mirrors, to install even just one side, so that they still can join. If I didn’t, almost half of the bikers’ number will be reduced. Hay….. I figured that most of them didn’t visit much the MCP forums, much less the Freedom Ride threads.

It’s already 8:30 am. Before we rode out, I contacted Sir Jojo Medina to clarify if he’ll be joining us here in Cavite. He said that he’ll be waiting for us at Shell Balintawak. Ok then, expect us to arrive after an hour (and so I thought!).

We rode out in a 2-man staggered formation. I spearheaded the group because I’ll be the one who’ll talk to the enforcers if we get stopped. No sooner that very minute, after exiting Aguinaldo highway at the Longos flyover, the PEATC Coastal enforcers are already waiting below. I told the officer that if it’s ok, we’ll park our bike on the curb. He quickly agreed.

An officer, mid 40’s medium built and small in stature, was the first one I talked to. Under the hot morning sun, we debated about the legality of our group entering the expressways. He showed me that blasted MEMO signed by Exec Dir Manuel Imperial, (which I both grew to hate) on which they are basing their apprehension. It was written in it that 25 riders have caused a huge traffic jam on the SLEX portion of Bicutan to Alabang. In the back of my mind, Hey! Kami itong Freedom Riders binabangit dito ah! Hahahaha! They also say under P.D. 1112 that they have the authority to ban us. That blasted memo was a real piece of work. This doesn’t hold water to the Supreme Court decision no matter what law TRB is cooking up in their sleeves.

Time Check 9:30 AM: I kept on updating Sir Jojo about our situation. All this debating took about an hour of our time. Everyone is joining in the fray. Our co-member, Eagle1 is really heating up from the stubbornness of the enforcers. Two new faces appeared from PEATC brass. One guy looks a bit old, mid 50’s I think. Judging from his face, he looks like those hush puppies. Hehehe… The other guy is younger, a tall one in his dirty white polo with red and white stripes wearing shades. He even mentions his membership with a prominent motorcycle group here in Cavite (sorry, I won’t mention it to protect the club’s name).

All the while I was thinking to myself, why are we wasting our time here and nothing seems to get resolved? I told the enforcers we won’t back down and we won’t divert our route. So they might as well take our licenses and issue tickets. To my surprise, they have the balls do it. We even mentioned that whatever violation they write will just be reversed by the LTO-TAS. And their jobs will be on the line after we submit a complaint to the legal dept of LTO. And you know what they say after? “Pwede ba kayong maghintay at wala kaming dalang sapat na tickets?” WTF! This is the last straw! I had enough of this delaying tactics. Eagle1 told me to ride out ahead while the officers are busy with the other Freedom Riders. I nonchalantly turn on the ignition of my bike (good thing the engine is running silently and I still have a stock pipe installed). I quickly put on my helmet and gloves. I looked around if anyone has seen me. When the coast was clear, I burst out on the road! Nagulat silang lahat pati yung mga PEATC enforcers! Hahaha! Hindi sila nakaporma!

I didn’t notice that the wife of Dawn Ripper was tailing me from behind. I guess she was observing me when I got to my bike and sensed that I going to make a break for it. I kept on looking at my side mirrors if were being followed by the officers. All I can see are the distant headlights of their slow cruisers. They are too far from behind. Me and DawnRipper’s wife were the first ones to arrive at the toll gates. We paid our toll fees (Well, no apprehending officers are here) and parked on the side of the road. It took a while for the others to catch up. One by one they piled on the toll gates. And one by one they parked beside our bikes and telling us what happened after I bolted from the group. It was mayhem after I sped off. The PEATC officers didn’t know what to do. They tried to block the Freedom Riders, but all they could do is just delay the inevitable. Our numbers were just too much for their patrol. I even saw a red pickup trying desperately blocking the exit of the toll gate they entered. Again, this was a feeble attempt and eventually they gave up.

What a way to enter the expressway! (If only this were like every Freedom Ride) It has the makings of a real action movie. A blockade. Then a confrontation. Then negotiations. Then a chase sequence. Then shouts of joy from the sweet smell of victory. Yeehaaaa!

I immediately called Sir Jojo that we have broken thru and we are on our way. After we made sure everyone has passed thru safely, we rode out of Coastal Expressway and made our move to Shell Balintawak. NLEX, here we come! But that’s another ride report……

Ride report by hotruss