By LITO RULONA Correspondent A RETURNING councilor yesterday frowned city police director Faro Antonio Olaguera’s appeal to the city council for the amendment of a city ordinance that obliges motorcycle riders to use helmets. Incoming councilor Ian Mark Nacaya said Senior Supt. Olaguera’s request would mean violating Republic Act 10054 or the Motorcycle Act. Nacaya said the city’s Helmet Ordinance is based on a national law. “The helmets is for the protection of the driver. Hinuktukan sa atong kapolisan that the fight against ‘riding-in-tandem’ (criminals who use motorcycles) is to beef up their operations and intelligence gathering. Conduct every now and then mobile checkpoints, dili kay gana-gana lang,” Nacaya said. He said the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) can enforce laws in other ways, and it should utilize all police units to fight criminals in the city. Nacaya said Olaguera’s proposal not to make motorcycle riders wear helmets within the city proper “is not the solution.” Councilor Enrico Salcedo however said he was in favor of Olaguera’s proposal. “Dako kini og ikatabang nga amendment considering that most of the suspects of robbery and shootings in the city used motorcycles as getaway vehicles,” Salcedo said. He said Olaguera was right in pointing out that motorcycle drivers should only wear helmets when they are on highways. “Hinay man managan ang motor sulod sa siyudad pero diha sa highway kusog og gikinahanglan na og proteksyon ang mga motorist,” he said. Salcedo said Olaguera’s proposal, if approved, would also help traffic law enforcers in identifying erring drivers like minors who hide their faces with helmets to elude apprehension. Salcedo said there should be speed limits within the city proper for motorcycle riders.