WITH pomp and fanfare, some 50 motorcycle riders rode the streets of Cebu City yesterday to launch Task Force Motorsiklo-Cebu City.
Led by Cebu City Police Office Director (CCPO) Director Patro-cinio Comen-dador, the motorcycle-riding operatives left Camp Sotero Cabahug towards the Cebu Business Park to Juan Luna Ave., M.J. Cuenco Ave. and to Gen. Maxilom Ave. past 11 a.m. yesterday.
Though they began roaming the streets aboard motorcycles two weeks ago, Comendador said they were formally launching the task force to send out a message to the public.
“We want our message to be delivered to them (motorcycle-riding criminals) loud and clear—we are now in fighting mode,” Comendador said before getting on his own motorcycle.
The task force was created following the rise in crimes perpetrated by those aboard motorcycles. Of all units under the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7, the CCPO topped the number of crimes committed by persons on motorcycles.
He said that if criminals would use motorcycles, then they, the police, should also use motorcycles to go after them.
He said that the task force already began patrols and synchronized checkpoints last week. He also announced that for the entire week, they did not record any incidents that were perpetrated by persons on motorcycles.
Supt. Pablo Labra II, who was designated task force commander, said they task force is composed of about 20 regular police officers while the rest are civilian volunteers. All of them will be using their personal motorcycles.
He said the operations will continue everyday and that they were divided into three teams: the special investigation team led by Senior Insp. George Ylanan, the Homicide team led by Senior Insp. Mario Monilar and the Theft and Robbery team led by Senior Insp. Michael Bastes.
Each station also has members of their miscellaneous teams as part of the task force.
He added that they have identified target personalities with standing arrest warrants.
Comendador said they will provide gasoline to policemen and civilian volunteers so they can patrol the streets.
“Wala ta’y gipasalig nila. This is purely voluntary on their part,” he said.
Comendador also warned that his operatives were trained sharpshooters and would not hesitate to use force “under circumstances allowed by law” if their lives were compromised.
“They have standing orders to shoot, to maim and, need be, to shoot to kill,” Comendador told reporters. (MEA)
