NCRPO eyes on-the-spot checks on riding in tandem passengers

Sinas said the measure aims to stop crimes, particularly shooting that could be perpetrated by riding-in-tandem criminals. (File photo: PIO NCRPO/Facebook)

MANILA — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Friday plans to hold on-the-spot checks in motorcycle riding-in-tandem passengers.

“We devise a plan na pag may riding in tandem, i-check agad. Sitahin agad tignan ang license as a preventive measure [We devise a plan that if there is riding in tandem, we’ll check it immediately, check the license as a preventive measure],” NCRPO acting chief, Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas told reporters in a press briefing.

Sinas said the measure aims to stop crimes, particularly shooting that could be perpetrated by riding-in-tandem criminals.

Aside from checkpoints, Sinas said roaming patrols will also be deployed.

“Whenever our police personnel in roaming patrols see riding in tandem passengers, they can be flagged. This is the only way we can think of, aside from random checkpoints. If they are apprehended and they have shown necessary permits, there’s no problem. This is for us to prevent shooting incidents. We are experimenting,” Sinas explained.

As for Angkas riders, Sinas said they would not be flagged down as long as there was a permit.

In the National Capital Region, the city of Mandaluyong bans riding-in-tandem passengers who are both males, except if they are first-degree relatives.

Earlier, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, PNP Directorial Staff chief, said that he was open to implementing a one-strike policy against police commanders failing to topple riding-in-tandem criminals.

Eleazar said he would particularly bring up the proposal with PNP Officer-In-Charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, and chief of operations, Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan.

“Ikokonsulta po natin yan at pati po sa pamunuan ng PNP [We will consult it to the PNP leadership],” Eleazar said in a radio interview.

Under the proposed policy, commanders will be immediately sacked from the service for failing to fight crimes orchestrated by riding-in-tandem suspects.

Eleazar tagged the proposal as a “great suggestion”.

The advantage of such idea, Eleazar said, was that commanders would exert effort to prevent the attacks by assailants riding motorcycles to happen.

“Kung ito ay para sa riding in tandem, siguro magdo-double time din itong ating mga commander para maiwasan ang occurrence ng incidents involving riding in tandem suspects [If this is for the riding in tandem incidents, our commanders would have double time to prevent the occurrence of incidents involving riding-in-tandem suspects],” he pointed out.

Eleazar compared the said policy to the case of indiscriminate firing wherein chiefs and commanders of police could employ barangay officials to help run after those who fired shots within 24 hours.

“Para makapag-imbestiga at magkaroon ng resolution para huwag siya ma-relieve [To investigate and to have a resolution so that he could not be relieved],” he said.