Top cop turns gaze to felons on motorcycles

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Newly installed Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) Brigadier General Rolando Miranda will attempt to accomplish what his predecessors failed to do: go after and arrest riding-in-tandem or motorcycle-riding criminals.

Miranda on Monday said he wanted a more focused effort to counter motorcycle-riding suspects (MRS), especially those in the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo, which are two highly urbanized cities in Western Visayas.

Some MRS are involved in summary killings which particularly targeted persons linked to the illegal drug trade.

Currently, PRO-6 has Motorized Anti-Street Crime Operating (MASCO) teams, which are deployed to respond to incidents involving motorcycle-riding suspects, other crimes and even emergencies.

“I want to strengthen these units by providing support and proper training for them to become more effective,” Miranda said.

But on top of crimes, MASCO teams must also be pro-active in enforcing Republic Act 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Laws) and all traffic ordinances of the LGUs, Miranda said.

“This will deny road-unworthy motor vehicles to be used in committing crimes such as robbery, murder and other street crimes,” he said.

MASCO teams are also expected to perform other police interventions, such as Oplan Bakal and Oplan Sita, as motorcycles are often used as getaway vehicles by criminals.

Oplan Bakal is a police operation on bars or nightclub, where policemen enter the place unannounced and conduct a search on clients who might carry firearms.

Oplan Sita refers to checkpoints in strategic areas targeting undocumented/unregistered motorcycles.

From January to November 2020, a total of 90 crimes were committed by motorcycle-riding suspects.

The 90 cases include murder (43), physical injuries (20), robbery cases (15), theft (7), rape (3), and motornapping (2).

“I am hopeful that this would address our problems in crimes committed by motorcycle-riding suspects,” Miranda said.