Cotabato province map. INQUIRER FILES
KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato — Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista has offered a brand new motorcycle for any one who could give him accurate information that would lead to the arrest and filing of charges in court against suspects of motorcycle thefts in the city.
Evangelista said on Saturday, Jan. 13, that he was giving out the reward, after motorcycle theft cases rose in the last few days in the city’s central business center.
The mayor, who posted his announcement on the city’s social media page, said the Kidapawan City Police Traffic Division monitored the alarming rise in motorcycle thefts in the last few days.
In the first two weeks of January alone, at least seven motorcycles parked at the shopping centers and even outside the houses of their owners were stolen.
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“What makes it more alarming is that, even in broad daylight and the presence of close circuit television (CCTV) cameras, carnappers are not afraid,” the mayor said.
Police said suspects usually wore bull caps and ski-masks so that they could not easily be identified even when caught by CCTV cameras.
Evangelista said the brand new motorcycle would serve as incentive or reward to citizens who could catch the thieves in the act and could carry out a “citizen’s arrest.”
The mayor, however, clarified that the reward would be given only after the filling of cases in court against the arrested car thieves.
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He said this reward system could help encourage citizens to cooperate.
Evangelista will also issue an Executive Order intensifying the implementation of the 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. curfew hours in 40 villages in the city.
He will also urge village officials to do their share by creating patrol groups to ensure the safety and security of their constituents at night, with the cost of fuel to be shouldered by the city government.
The city government will also purchase at least 20 brand new motorcycles for the police and the Traffic Management Enforcement Unit (TMEU) to strengthen police presence and visibility within the city.