Cops adopt strategies vs motorcycle-riding robbers

As the Christmas shopping season is expected to peak this month, police in Metro Manila have adopted strategies to thwart motorcycle-riding robbers. In Quezon City, radio dzBB's Roland Bola said the police have adopted a "one-strike policy" to keep precinct and station commanders on their toes. Quezon City police director Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele said under the policy, Police Community Precinct (PCP) commanders will be removed their posts after the first incident involving motorcycle-riding robberies in their areas of jurisdiction. A second incident will result in the ouster of a "bigger fish" - the commander of the police station with jurisdiction over the area where the robbery occurred. A police station has jurisdiction over police precincts. Robbers riding in tandem aboard motorcycles mug victims or snatch personal items from them before quickly maneuvering in crowded streets. In Manila, dzBB's Allan Gatus reported the Manila Police District launched its Motorcycle and Anti-Street Crime Operations (MASCO) unit. The motorcycle-riding policemen will patrol the streets and chase motorcycle-riding snatchers and robbers. Manila police suspect robbers will likely strike particularly in the Divisoria district, where shoppers flock to buy items at lower prices. Metro cops to keep checkpoints vs firearms Meanwhile, the Metro Manila police will keep checkpoints to watch out for illegal firearms during the Christmas season. Radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad reported Metro Manila police head Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said they will maintain the checkpoints they set up for the gun ban for the Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. – VVP, GMANews.TV