GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 8 June) – The Police Regional Office (PRO)-12 has emerged as the most efficient among country’s regional police offices resolving cases of “riding-in-tandem killings” since last year.
Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, Region 12 police director, said Friday the region’s police units achieved a combined efficiency rating of 64 percent, topping a latest assessment conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) central office.
From Oct. 11 to May 14, he said they recorded a total of 86 cases of murders in the region that were perpetrated by motorcycle-riding suspects, the fourth highest among the country’s 17 regions.
But the police official said 66 of these cases were already resolved, with the suspects facing appropriate charges in local courts.
“Although we are fourth in the list for the number of riding-in-tandem killings, it turned out that we’re the most efficient in terms of solving these cases,” Morales said in a statement.
He attributed such accomplishment to the intensified conduct of operation plans or Oplans Sita, Bitag and Salikop, as well as the random checkpoints along national highways and other strategic roads in the region.
Morales cited the efforts of the Highway Patrol Group-12 and the enhanced intelligence operations of local police units against motorcycle-riding criminals.
With these, he said the roads and highways in the area have become safer for local residents.
The official assured that there will be no let-up in their campaign against motorcycle riding-in-tandem criminals, especially suspected hired killers or assassins.
“I have clearly instructed my men to shoot any riding-in-tandem suspect and criminals who will evade checkpoints or resist arrest,” he said.
He also ordered police personnel to be always prompt in responding to killings and related incidents in the streets and highways.
To ensure proper compliance with his directives, Morales said he had been conducting surprise inspections of the area’s police stations and checkpoints.
Morales added that they always make sure that immediate hot pursuit operations against fleeing suspects are conducted and those arrested are charged immediately as these could help deter street crimes and related incidents. (MindaNews)
