Duterte plans to buy more motorcycles for PNP

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (Photo: ALBERTO ALCAIN/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night said he saw a need to purchase new motorcycles for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help prevent street crimes.

Duterte bared that he intended to “go hard” on criminals in the last two years of his term, noting an upsurge of street crimes such as hold-ups after quarantine classifications were relaxed.

“I really intend to go hard within the last two years of my term pati itong mga kriminal. We have seen an upsurge of holdups, street crimes again it’s because of the liberality being offered by the opening of the economy. And of course, people are now allowed to roam freely and to travel,” he said.

He said he understood the “nightmare” that police are facing in chasing motorcycle-riding suspects who could easily get away with their offense.

“Kasi ang motor kasi nagsi-zigzag lang ‘yan (Because motorcycles can zigzag) in and out of traffic situations and they can really get away with it easily. Unlike the motor vehicles, ma-ano ng (caught in) traffic. But itong mga motor kung minsan dumadaan pa ng ano sidewalk eh (Motorcycles sometimes pass through sidewalks). That is also a matter which we have to address,” he added.

Buying motorcycles, he said, could help the PNP’s Highway Patrol Group run after motorcycle-riding suspects.

“We can train the Highway Patrol. We can train about siguro in one class 30. We have to increase the mobile capacity ng pulis at saka (of police and) we can buy motorcycles ‘yung mahahaba (the long ones), all that can negotiate any obstacle, the ordinary obstacles that you’d find in the streets,” he said in a taped speech

Duterte, a motorcycle enthusiast, said it was not enough for cops to know how to ride a motorcycle, they should undergo training.

“But they have to be trained. It’s not just a matter of knowing how to ride a bike, or bicycle, motorcycle for that matter,” he added.

He asked Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to plan the purchase of motorcycles, suggesting that the 250cc motorcycles “would be a good one”.

According to Duterte, police officers should be in plainclothes or civilian clothes to avoid identification as a law enforcement officer.

“Pero hindi naka-uniporme (But they shouldn’t be in uniform). I know that it is not advisable but the only way to really counter the anonymity of a criminal is also to fight the thing on the ground,” he said.