Citom to continue going after skaters

CEBU, Philippines - Skaters can vow all they want to continue skating despite the ordinance that prohibits the use of rollerblades and skateboards on any roadway, but authorities would also continue going after them.

“Law is a law.  I mean, the reason of the law is safety. As far as transport is concerned, they (skaters) post not just a risk to themselves but to others. That’s the reason behind the law,” said City Traffic Operations Management Executive Director Rafael Christopher Yap.

Last Saturday, despite the presence of City Ordinance 801 (Traffic Code of Cebu City) that prohibits the use of rollerblades and skateboards on any roadway except while crossing the street, hundreds of skaters gathered at the downtown area to celebrate “Go Skateboarding Day.”

Joy Tumulak, Citom operation head said his department observed maximum tolerance during that instance.

“Nag-exercise mi og maximum tolerance kay delikado man kon panakpon sila kay daghan man sila mga hundreds, niya magdinaganay. Naglikay mis disgrasya (It was dangerous to make arrests because hundreds would be jockeying to run away. We opted to avoid accidents in the streets,” Tumulak said.  Citom said that there were Citom personnel who were deployed to watch over the skaters.

Ginie Mark Sarmiento, one of the skaters said they will continue skating

 â€œMagpadayon gyud gihapon mi kay amo man ning gusto. Mas maayo na lang ni kaysa sa (We will continue to skate because this is what we want. This is better than doing) drugs,” Sarmiento said.

Yap, though, is not buying Sarmiento’s line of reasoning.

 â€œI don’t believe nga ila ng gamiton nga (that is a good) excuse. We’re not saying nga stop skateboarding.  We’re just saying nga you should do it on a private roads. Nganong sa (Why use) public roads man gyud? Nganong dili man sa (Why not do it in) private properties?” he said. (FREEMAN)