PNP‐HPG wants certified true copy of marriage certificates

The PNP‐HPG will not accept photocopies of marriage certificates as proof of union

It just keeps getting better and better for riders. Today, during the first day of the implementation of the new backriding policy, the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP – HPG) is requiring couple riders to present a CERTIFIED TRUE COPY of their marriage certificate instead of a photocopy.

_{Jump to 32:03 for the statement about the marriage certificate.}

“Hindi ito pwede ano...Mas maganda rin sana ito authenticated...kasi meron talaga yung certified true copy na marriage certificate. (This is not enough [photocopy]. It's better if it's authenticated. There's a certified true copy of marriage certificates)” said the PNP – HPG officer who was with his team during an operation earlier today.

This new requirement comes at the heels of a string of conditions for backriding from various government branches. Yesterday, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary, Eduardo Año, announced that backriding or riding pillion will be allowed for couples living in the same household, but with a shield between them.

On the same day, Presidential spokesperson, Harry Roque, in a separate announcement, said that the government will only allow married couples, as clarified by the DILG and the National Task Force COVID-19.

“Pero sa ngayon po talaga, naparating sa akin ni Sec. Año (DILG) at ni Sec. Galvez (National Task Force COVID-19), limitado po sa mga mag-asawa. (For now, I've been told by Sec. Año (DILG) and Sec. Galvez (National Task Force COVID-19) that it's limited to married couples," said Roque.

The Presidential spokesperson added that, as a form of identification, married couples would be required to present a photocopy of their marriage certificate.

The Requirements

To summarize, couples that want to ride together will first have to secure a certified true copy of their marriage certificate from the local civil registrar or through the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and have a backride shield made (PhP2,000-PhP3,000) and attached. Motorcycle safety experts have already pointed out that the shield is unsafe.  

Mayor Vico Sotto, on the other hand, advised his constituents that backriding, or riding pillion, is still not allowed in Pasig City until clear, national-level guidelines are given by the IATF-EID.