Duterte concerned over surge of street crimes; orders deployment of trained cops to go after motorcycle-riding criminals

October 15, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has raised concern over the surge in the number of street crimes, particularly holdup activities using motorcycles, as the government further opens the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

This as the Chief Executive ordered the training and deployment of policemen in civilian clothes from the Highway Patrol Group.

"We have seen an upsurge of holdup street crimes again 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 in a televised message on Wednesday night.

He noted that criminals are using motorcycles because it is easier to escape even in areas where flow of traffic is heavy.

"I understand the nightmare the police are facing how to control the mobility of the criminals right after committing a crime...we have to address it," Duterte said.

Duterte told Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano, who was present when he made the public address, to train about 30 members of the HPG in one class on how to use the motorcycles properly in going after the criminals.

"They have to increase the mobile capacity of the police and also we can buy motorcycles, the long one, that can negotiate any obstacle, ordinary obstacles that can be found on the streets," he said.

He said these law enforcers would be in civilian clothes.

"The only way really to counter anonymity of criminals is also to fight the thing on the ground," Duterte added. Celerina Monte/DMS