Belmonte turns over 28 motorcycles to CPD

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. turned over 28 motorcycles yesterday to the Central Police District (CPD) in a bid to boost the anti-cime camapaign of the city’s police force.

CPD director Chief Superintendent Napoleon Castro received the units during a ceremony marking the police district’s 13th anniversary.

Castro said the new motorcycles would further enable the lawmen to effectively go after unlawful elements operating in the city, especially motorcycle-riding robbers.

To date, the Quezon City government under Belmonte has turned over P110 million worth of vehicles and equipment to the CPD.

He said the motorcycles will be deployed in the streets next week.

"These motorcycles are a big help because they will enable our policemen to respond to incidents faster, particularly in tracking down those criminals riding in tandem," he said. "Ito ang pang-match natin sa mga robbers na yan. Puwedeng sumingit-singit kaya kahit traffic."

However, Castro admitted that the CPD lacks personnel that can effectively handle the motorcycles.

According to him, there are only 15 members of the CPD that have the knowledge and skills in offensive and defensive motorcycle driving. Castro will be sending 20 more officers for proper training.

Castro noted yesterday an increase in the crime solution efficiency of the CPD for the past year.

According to him, out of the 4,752 crime incidents reported from Oct. 1, 2002 to Sept. 30, 2003, 84.8 percent had been solved by the CPD.

This, he noted, has earned the CPD the distinction of being the top police district of the NCRPO. – Katherine Andraneda