Kidapawan City Mayor Paolo Evangelista implemented a creative strategy to address illegal drag racing, humorously calling it a “thesis defense” on Facebook. On October 21, he publicly urged parents of minors nicknamed “Payat” and “Royroy” to bring their sons and their motorcycles to his office for a meeting, joking that they needed to defend their actions. The post went viral, garnering thousands of reactions, comments, and shares. On October 23, Evangelista held the “defense proper,” postponing motorcycle crushing as more riders reportedly wanted to join. By the next day, his feed was filled with posts and screenshots of young riders and their motorcycles.
The mayor’s approach sparked a social media parody, with residents like high school teacher Sheldon Lee Neniel crafting mock research proposals satirizing drag racing. While the humor resonated, it underscored real concerns about road safety. Earlier in October, a 20-year-old rider died, and two others were injured in a drag racing accident. Kidapawan City Police Chief Lt. Col. Jose Marie Simangan confirmed the incident involved illegal racing. Evangelista shared CCTV footage of the crash, warning against dangerous stunts like the “Superman” maneuver and emphasizing that passion or thrill should not endanger lives.
The “thesis defense” initiative highlights how local leaders are leveraging social media for civic engagement and public accountability. (Guia A. Rebollido / MindaNews)
