Friday, May 23, 2008 PNP chief orders police to intensify action against criminals using motorcycles
POLICE have been ordered to step up the campaign against motorcycle-riding criminals.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon Jr. ordered Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ronald Roderos to go after motorcycle-riding criminals following the ambush and killing of lawyer Richard William Sison.
Sison was aboard his grey Toyota Hilux pick-up when two men on a motorcycle tailed him Wednesday morning. The motorcycle passenger then alighted and repeatedly shot him on V. Sotto St., when Sison stopped for a red light.
Men in motorcycles have been tagged responsible for most of the recent crimes, including the shooting of persons who have just posted bail.
In a memorandum sent to city and provincial directors, the Regional Mobile Group, Traffic Management Office and police chiefs, Roderos ordered random checkpoints “day and night in different places” on motorcycles, especially those that have passengers.
Razon issued the order to Roderos right after reading the spot report they submitted on Sison’s death last Wednesday.
Checkpoints
Roderos further ordered that checkpoints be led by officials and that all PNP personnel be in their complete uniforms.
He said checkpoints should have the necessary sign boards and should be in lighted areas. Roderos also said that barangay tanods and volunteers should also be in their barangay uniforms.
During checkpoints, police should request drivers to open seat compartments of motorcycles where firearms and explosives can be hidden.
Roderos also reminded them to enforce the “no plate, no travel” policy.
He urged unit commanders to request traffic units such as the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom), Mandaue City’s Traffic Enforcement and Management (Team) and other traffic enforcement units to clamp, remove, and impound motorcycles that travel without plate numbers.
He asked them to include those parked in the streets.
Roderos directed police directors to coordinate with barangay tanods to locate, identify or arrest criminals with pending warrants of arrest.
He required them to submit regular reports of their actions on his directive and to disseminate the information to all field commanders.
In Cebu City Hall, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that although he considers Sison’s death as “very tragic,” the killing has nothing to do with criminality in the city.
Angles
He said there are various angles to consider on the killing and none involve Cebu City.
When asked on the safety of Cebu City, the mayor said it was up to the people to decide whether they think the city is safe.
“I’m always alert on any possibility of any danger because we have all kinds of threats,” he said.
Osmeña said it was his job to make the people of Cebu City feel safe. He added that is why the City constantly trains its policemen—in order to keep the City safe.
“It is almost unlikely that he (Sison) was an innocent bystander. That somebody looked like him, looked like his face and shot him. It appears to be a deliberate plan,” said Osmeña.
He said whoever killed Sison had planned the killing. He said he suspects that the killers are not from Cebu City.
“I suspect that the killers are not from here, that’s why they didn’t bother to wear helmets,” Osmeña said.
He also believes it was possible that the killers came from the police.
“He may come from a corrupt police group,” said the mayor.
Osmeña said he was told that Sison filed a case against a policeman over illegal drugs. He said that could be a possible angle in Sison’s murder.
He also said the murder could be related to Mayor Arturo Radaza’s activities in Lapu-Lapu. Sison served as Lapu-Lapu City’s legal consultant and Radaza’s lawyer. (MEA/EPB)
