PNP sets sights on motorcycle-riding killers

MANILA, Philippines — With the directive of President Duterte to refrain from participating in the anti-drug campaign, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has started to focus on crimes committed by criminals riding in tandem as investigators recorded 152 cases involving motorcycle-riding suspects nationwide from Oct. 10 to 29.

The President recently ordered the PNP not to interfere with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Deputy Director General Fernando Mendez, PNP deputy chief for operations (DCO), said 152 cases were committed by motorcycle-riding suspects, include 79 killings and 73 robbery cases with 172 suspects.

Of the 152 cases, 28 incidents occured in Metro Manila and 16 cases each in Central Luzon (Region 3) and Southern Tagalog or Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon).

So far, Mendez said of the 172 motorcycle-riding suspects, two persons were killed when they shot it out with pursuing policemen while 15 others were arrested and now face charges in court.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa vowed to finish off riding-in-tandem criminals through aggressive police operations nationwide.

Police authorities expressed belief that motorcycle-riding criminals are not members of organized syndicates. 

Dela Rosa said these criminals are using motorcycles to easily get away from pursuing authorities even through traffic jams. 

He directed the PNP regional directors to intensify manhunt operations against 155 such suspects who are at large.

The PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) said 33 percent of the deaths under investigation from July 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2017 were committed by motorcycle-riding suspects. 

The DIDM did not provide the statistics of the homicide cases under investigation.

“About 33 percent of those deaths were being perpetrated by motorcycle riding criminals so it’s quite big, we will focus on those where policemen are allegedly involved. Whether police or civilian, we will pursue them,” he said.

Dela Rosa directed all policemen nationwide to stop motorcycle-riding criminals from committing crimes.

“Immediate action, my general guidance is to stop it. I told commanders, you stop these crimes. So how to do it, they know how to do it,” he noted.

When asked if the campaign against motorcycle riding criminals would be bloody, Dela Rosa said the situation would depend on the actuation of the suspects. He made sure the criminals will be neutralized.

Dela Rosa instructed his men to try to arrest motorcycle riding criminals to prevent any more criticism. He also told them to stay alive when going after such criminals.