The town of Hermosa, Bataan is a two-hour drive from Manila, and in this suburban locale, people have their own issues to worry about: take overly noisy mufflers for instance, which has apparently caused enough public disturbance that the mayor has decided to take matters into his own hands — literally — by smashing them.
Hermosa mayor Jopet Inton led the public pummeling of confiscated modified mufflers in the town plaza alongside Hermosa PNP (Philippine National Police) and local marshalls, local website 1Bataan reported.
Mayor Inton smashed the seized mufflers — all 90 of them — with a sledgehammer as authorities looked on.
If you’re wondering about the heavy-handed approach, modified mufflers — altered to create more noise rather than reduce it — are strictly prohibited in the town, based on a local ordinance. The mayor also said that this was in compliance with Chapter 4 Section J of Republic Act 4136, which states the following:
“(j) Mufflers. – Every motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine shall be equipped with a muffler, and whenever said motor vehicle passes through a street of any city, municipality, or thickly populated district or barrio, the muffler shall not be cut out or disconnected. No motor vehicle shall be operated in such a manner as to cause it to emit or make any unnecessary or disagreeable odor, smoke or noise.”
Funny as nothing in the law states that annoyingly loud mufflers should be smashed with a mallet, but perhaps we all have our own ways.
Looks like his constituents were pleased with the turnout on social media, however, and the mayor further parlayed this enthusiasm by reminding the good public to report erring motorists to the proper authorities.
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