HAVING been a victim of motorcycle-riding criminals in San Juan City 12 years ago, I am calling on the public particularly Metro Manila residents to fully support our law enforcement authorities in going after evil robbers and assassins who will not hesitate to kill for the love of money and escape on board their motorcycles particularly this coming Christmas holidays.

Considering the fact that the 140,000-strong police force could not cover every nook and cranny of the country-particularly in Metro Manila which, according to the National Statistics Office has a total population of 11.2 million that is being served by the 17,000-strong National Capital Region Police Office, the public must serve as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the authorities raring to put an end to these criminal activities.

I’m encouraging all Journal Group readers to immediately report to the nearest police station or DILG Patrol 117 the presence of suspicious-looking persons in your neighborhood, particularly those who are armed and riding in motorcycles. You may not know it but the tip that you give will save another human life. And that life could be that of your love ones, your father, mother, brother, sister or even your child.

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These motorcycle-riding criminals have turned countless number of children into instant orphans. This month alone, I can’t count on my fingers the number of stories I have written about motorcycle-riding tandems who have shot and killed their targets who offered the slightest resistance. There was even this gasoline boy in the province who was killed by one of two motorcycle-riding thieves who also shot the cashier.

In my case, I could have ended up dead on that fateful afternoon of May 24, 1999. Six men riding in three motorcycles attacked me but I was lucky enough to have the presence of mind and the training to survive such ordeal. I exchanged fire with my attackers, and with the help of a San Juan police officer named Neil Torres, I survived death, shooting one of the gunmen who later died in the hospital. Two weeks ago, while playing basketball with a group of police officers, a man suddenly approached me and shook my hands. It turned out to be Neil, still with the San Juan police and still ready to be a guardian angel for those who are in need.

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PNP chief, General Nick Bartolome was right when he ordered stepped-up patrols in the streets to further help protect the citizenry from daring criminals specifically motorcycle-riding robbers this coming Yuletide season. Bartolome said that in anticipation of the holidays, he has ordered all 17 police regional directors to strictly implement the Police Integrated Patrol System or PIPS which calls for the systematic employment of beat and mobile patrols in crime-prone areas in accordance with the so-called ‘crime clock.’

In the wake of the string of daring criminal attacks involving motorcycle-riding assassins and robbers, the PNP chief said that checkpoint operations will likewise be intensified with the objective of restricting criminals from moving freely in the streets with their weapons and other deadly tools.

Bartolome ordered all police commanders to address incidents of crimes committed by criminals riding in tandem and to immediately submit a full report on these incidents. He told me that the performance of police commanders in the coming days will be part of their Performance Evaluation Report in their current positions.

“It pains me whenever I read reports of our citizens harmed by criminals making their supposed reunions and merry making ruined,” Bartolome told me. That statement should be enough clue for concerned commanders to be on their guard. But still, I maintain that a vigilant citizenry will play a major role in stopping these criminals. Let’s help our authorities by giving them timely information.

A CHALLENGE TO THE MPD

I am challenging the Manila Police District leadership to help the QCPD track down and arrest Police Officer 1 Harold Meneses, the MPD personnel who has been ordered arrested in connection with the killing of an 18-year old Filipino-Norwegian last July.

I was told by a friend, QCPD deputy director, Senior Superintendent Arrazad Subong that a warrant for the arrest of PO1 Meneses for the killing of Mikael Troy Johanssen was issued last Tuesday by Q.C. Judge Henry Jean-Paul Inting. The cop faces a non-bailable offense.

MPD deputy director, Senior Supt. Alex Gutierrez said PO1 Meneses went into hiding but sent surrender feelers to his superiors after killing Johanssen.  The cop even claimed he shot the victim in self-defense.

Nothing came of his promise as PO1 Meneses continued hiding and is still at large nearly three months after he was identified as the man who shot Rasay dead outside a bar in Timog Avenue, Q.C. and put the Philippines anew in a bad light before the eyes of the European community.

The failure of Meneses to yield has earned the ire of Mayor Alfredo Lim last July. According to Gutierrez, Meneses told his immediate superior that he was forced to shoot Rasay after he was struck in the head by the victim. However, Meneses’ alibi has been denied by a number of witnesses at the scene and his plight from justice.

Meneses fit an artist sketch released by the QCPD following descriptions given by witnesses.

QCPD investigators also recovered a firearm’s deposit slip signed by Meneses after he surrendered his 9mm semi-automatic pistol to the guard when he entered the Excess Super Club located along Timog Avenue in Q.C. The recovery of the firearm’s deposit slip gave the QCPD the necessary breakthrough it needed in identifying Rasay’s killer.

Now, the ball is in the hands of PO1 Meneses’ superiors to account for him and turn him over to the QCPD.