Crimes involving motorcycle-riding suspects dropped by 59% —Eleazar

Crimes involving motorbike-riding suspects have decreased by 59% during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Joint Task Force COVID Shield Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar on Friday.

In an interview on Unang Hirit, Eleazar was asked about the police's efforts against the supposed spike in criminal activities in Metro Manila involving suspects riding on motorcycles.

The police official stressed that the number of these crimes has actually decreased in previous years.

"Ito naman ay hindi naman ito 'yung malaking sindikato na may mga chapter sa lahat ng lugar. It so happen lang kasi na itong mga motorsiklo, para sa mga kriminal, ay madali ang pagtakas kaya nila ginagamit ito. Pero kung titingnan natin for the past four years, bumaba itong insidente involving motorcycle-riding suspects," Eleazar said.

"In fact, itong seven months natin, itong ating pandemic, kung ikukumpara natin sa seven months before that, 59% ang ibinaba ng mga insidente involving motorcycle-riding suspects. Lahat na 'yan pati sa lahat ng klaseng index crimes... Kung dating average niyan apat, ngayon dalawa na lang," he added.

Eleazar also said that the crime rate in the entire country has decreased by 46%.

"Dalawa 'yung nakikita nating reasons bakit na-highlight na naman ito, una dahil in spite bumaba ang krimen sa buong bansa ng 46%, naging sunod-sunod siya nitong bandang huli na nagluluwag tayo. Noong mahigpit naman kasi 'yan eh hindi naman kasi natin nakikita 'yan," Eleazar said.

According to the task force chief, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, through Philippine National Police chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, directed the police to strengthen the coordination with local officials to prevent these crimes.

The conduct of random checkpoints has also been heightened, Eleazar said.

Some of the crimes involving motorcycle-riding suspects include the murder and robbery of a motorcyclist in Valenzuela City early this month. Criminal complaints have been filed against the suspects who remain at large.  —LBG, GMA News