NCRPO deploys motorcycle cops against tandem-riding criminals

The head of the Metro Manila police force revealed on Friday that hundreds of Anti-Motorcycle-Riding Suspect (MRS) teams had been deployed by his office which has grappled for months with how to reduce the rising number of crimes perpetrated by motorcycle-riding gunmen.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Director Camilo Cascolan, said the Anti-MRS teams had been scattered across Caloocan City, Makati City and Pasay City, in addition to a group of Anti-MRS policemen tasked with patrolling Metro Manila.

“You will be seeing them a lot of times in dark areas, patrolling in pairs or groups of three or four,” Cascolan said.

The police teams will be on motorcycles small enough to let them pass through narrow alleys.

Cascolan envisioned the Anti-MRS teams as additional pairs of eyes and ears that would guard city borders in coordination with local government units (LGUs).

This would enable cities to be quickly placed on lockdown, denying motorcycle-riding suspects a chance to evade arrest, he said.

Cascolan also called on LGUs to help by donating motorcycles to the Anti-MRS teams. —Matthew Reysio-Cruz