CEBU, Philippines — To crackdown the motorcycle-riding gunmen, the Mandaue City government is set to purchase 20 motorcycles for the city’s traffic and police personnel.
The Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) and the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) will each receive 10 motorcycles.
Of the 10 allotted for MCPO, four will be given to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and the remaining motorcycles will be distributed to all six police stations.
It would cost the government P4 million for the 20 motorcycles or P200,000 each vehicle.
“At least naa ta'y quick deploy force,” said Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing.
He said the motorcycles are beneficial to police and traffic operations because they are easy to maneuver in the congested streets.
He said the prompt response would help reduce the crimes caused by motorcycle-riding criminals.
"Motorcycles can penetrate very easily in the most traffic roads. It will allow them to reach more areas easily.
So that we can be sure that in any case of incidents, makagukod gyud ang atong police ug traffic enforcers," he said.
The mayor also said most of the motorcycle riders or motorists who are under the influence of liquor would think that they can escape policemen or traffic enforcers once they are flagged down during a security checkpoint.
"They think they can outrun the police or outrun the traffic enforcers," he said.
With the recent shooting incidents in the city, Quisumbing said 12 SWAT members or two each station will do their daily rounds at night. The SWAT members will also serve as a “quick reaction force.”
The MCPO SWAT has 30 members.
The MCPO’s patrol police, on the other hand, will have to close the city’s exit or egress points or thoroughfares during the conduct of checkpoints.
"When they set up the checkpoints, (they) should be able to lock down most of the exit ways sa Mandaue," Quisumbing said.
In November last year, MCPO launched its elite Motorcycle Tactical Response Unit (MTRU), which is composed of 18 trained policemen.
The launching was part of the MCPO and the city government’s anti-criminality campaign that aims to address shooting incidents involving motorcycle riders. (FREEMAN)