Stopping 'riding-in-tandem' crimes an uphill battle for PNP

A few weeks into the launch of the Campaign Clean Rider by the Philippine National Police to rid the streets of motorcycle-riding suspects, a number of incidents perpetrated by riders again hogged the headlines.

Baybay City, Leyte student Ronie Bercede Recilia, 22, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding suspects on August 27, 2018. Police are still in the dark as to the motive and suspects in the incident.

Even persons of authority fall prey to the ferocity of motorcycle-riding suspects.

On August 28, CIDG Foreign Liaison Officer PO3 Nepthalie Buensuceso was shot in the head and body by an unknown motorcycle-riding perpetrator in N. Domingo, Quezon City.

Just a few days after, on September 2, another motorcycle-riding suspect was the perpetrator in the killing of a New Bilibid Prison official Inspector Rommel Reyes who was shot at the head and chest in Muntinlupa City.

Police are looking into his work and a possible love triangle as the motives for the said crime.

The anti-crime group Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order questions why these motorcycle-riding suspects continue to perpetrate crimes despite police efforts.

“Bakit hanggang ngayon hindi masolusyunan? Yung riding-in-tandem sa traffic sa Manila ang lakas ng loob nila na gumawa ng ganun? With CCTV, with heavy traffic. It’s very alarming! You don’t feel safe, ano ba yan?” asks the group's convenor Teresita Ang-See.

Confessions of a snatcher

This question was answered by a self-confessed member of a riding-in-tandem, “Samuel”, who was apprehended for his drug courier activities using a motorcycle.

“Samuel” admits he was engaged in snatching valuables from prospective targets with a partner while on board a motorcycle.

He did this for four years he says, from 2004 to 2008 before getting involved in transporting illegal drugs also using his motorcycle.

“Wala po akong trabaho, pangkain sa pamilya tsaka pambisyo po,” “Samuel” said when asked why he engaged in illegal activities.

Although he says he did not go as far as killing someone while on board his motorcycle, he admits it was easy for them to snatch things from their targets.

His friend drives the motorcycle while he is the one in charge of snatching the victim’s valuables.

“Kasi ang motor ma’am, nakakapasok ng eskinita eh, madaling tumakas ‘pag motor ang gamit mo. May mask pa kami nakahelmet kaya di kami nakikilala,” he confesses.

However, there would also be bad days for them.

“Yung ini-snatch-an naming doktora tapos nakaladkad po yung doktora, umipit yung kamay niya sa gulong 'di na mabilis takbo namin dahil baka maputol kamay niya baka mamatay. Nahuli po kami ng taumbayan po eh,” he said.

Though arrested in 2006, “Samuel” said their case was dismissed and he was acquitted because the victim in the case did not show up in court hearings.

However, in 2008, he said he finally stopped engaging in riding-in-tandem activities after his partner was summarily killed  He then entered into the drug courier service.

But when he was trying to evade a police checkpoint, he drove his motorcycle so fast that he did not notice there was a barangay mobile just right ahead of him.

He bumped into it and temporarily lost his consciousness, which was how he got arrested again.

“Samuel” says he feels sorry for all the crimes he committed and now that he’s back in jail, he vows to change for the better.

Emboldened

Ang-See however doubts this is really the case.

“Na-e-embolden sila kasi parang hindi naman kasi sila napaparusahan. Maaaring may nahuhuli, eh pag nahuhuli, sa tagal ng trial nakalimutan na lang lahat yung nangyari. O kaya kadalasan hindi nakakahuli, they get away with it. Kaya paulit ulit yung problema," she said.

PNP records show that from October 11, 2017 to August 6, 2018, there was a total of 1,232 victims of shooting incidents perpetrated by 1,482 motorcycle-riding suspects.

But only 83 of these suspects have been arrested, 14 were killed, while 1,384 are still at large. 520 of them have been identified while 864 remain unidentified.

“We can reduce it significantly but at the same time we cannot erase it in the face of the earth,” said PNP Spokesperson Police Sr. Supt. Benigno Durana Jr.

But the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order says there has to be a national government plan to rid of motorcycle-riding suspects.

“Magkaroon sila ng focused Task Force just for that. More concerted action. Kasi dapat talaga matignang mabuti hindi ba yung Criminal Justice System mo?” said Ang-See.

Police Director General Oscar Albayalde commits to doubling their effort especially on intelligence gathering to help prevent these crimes from happening.

“Kaya nga we’re doing our best. We really have to double time our effort kailangan natin doblehin noh yung aming effort dito para masolve itong mga cases na ito. We give big factor sa intelligence gathering natin. This is the only way we can prevent these things from happening,” added Albayalde. —JST, GMA News