Situation under control despite hike in riding in tandem crimes — police

A citizen's group took note that despite the suspension of the government's anti-illegal drugs campaign, the number of deaths involving killers on-board motorcycles has risen in the last few weeks, GMA News' Ian Cruz reported on "24 Oras."

Police officials replied that the country is not under a state of lawlessness and that the situation is under their control.

Based on National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) data, under the anti-illegal drugs program there are more than 1,000 recorded deaths and 200 of these are already solved.

NCRPO Regional Director Chief Superintendent Oscar Albayalde said the cases include gun-for-hire, drug groups, conflicting gangs, and cases involving ex-policemen who were dismissed from service.

"'Paano kung babalik na naman itong street pushers sa lugar namin'? So, I think itong mga ito, although we are not tolerating this, but some people are really taking the law into their own hands," Albayalde said.

The report cited four cases the Caloocan City PNP monitored recently which involved suspects on motorcycles.

One victim, identified as Nicodemus Ampuan, was killed in his home in Barangay 20 on Tuesday evening.

Ampuan's newphew said eight suspects on-board four motorcycles shot the victim. Nicodemus had surrendered to police officials through Oplan Tokhang.

Edger Evangelista and Noel Consorte were also killed in the on Thursday last week by unidentified suspects on-board motorcycles that did not have license plates.

Acting Caloocan City PNP chief Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna said three of the cases involved drug personalities.

"Yung tatlo, may ano, may involvement sa drugs. It's either yung victim or yung suspek ang drug personalities. Kalimitan yung mga napatay ay drug personalities, mga pusher," Bersaluna said.

The said cases are still under investigation.

The report also mentioned two deaths by riding in tandem suspects in Manggahan, Pasig City, one case in Addition Hills in Mandaluyong, and one case in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order issued a statement through chairman Ka Kuen Chua, noting that the increase in killings committed by motorcycle-riding shooters started when the PNP suspended its war on drugs.

"Inuulit namin ang position ng MRPO na ang pagsuspindi ng Oplan Tokhang ay hindi dapat mangahulugan na pababayaan na lang ng ating kapulisan na lumaganap ang kriminalidad partikular na sa ipinagbabawal na gamot," Chua said.

"Ang napapansin nating dumarami uling pagpatay ng mga riding in tandem ay hindi sana dahil maluwag ang kapulisan ngayon," he added. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BAP, GMA News