ILOILO City – Deployment of more policemen in strategic areas and intensified crackdown against drug peddlers and communist rebels – these are the main thrusts of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) for 2021.
While sustaining the strategic direction set forth by his predecessor, Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, PRO-6 director, is giving a “focused effort” in beefing up police deployment across Western Visayas this year.
“I want to see more policemen on the streets,” Miranda told Panay News yesterday, saying this would make the police’s response to crimes faster.
He plans to strengthen the Motorized Anti-Street Crime Operating (MASCO) teams tasked to chase criminals such as snatchers on motorcycles, and respond to emergencies.
These units will be provided support and proper training to become more effective, Miranda added.
Moreover, the MASCO teams will also perform other police interventions to include “Oplan Bakal” and “Oplan Sita” since motorcycles are often used as getaway vehicles by criminals.
From January to November 2020, a total of 90 crimes were committed by motorcycle-riding suspects, data from the PRO-6 showed.
Of the 90 cases, 43 were murder, 20 were physical injuries, 15 were robbery cases, seven were theft cases, three were rape and two are motornapping.
The Western Visayas top cop also vowed more offensives against illegal drug pushers and users.
With most parts of the region easing coronavirus lockdown measures, Miranda said more policemen can now be redeployed to further step up PRO-6’s antidrug campaign.
In 2020, various units of PRO-6 were able to seize around P135 million worth of shabu and P1,317 million worth of marijuana. A total of 1,842 drug personalities and 50 members of the communist terrorist groups (CTG) were arrested.
Also, 49 CTGs surrendered while five others were neutralized.
Miranda cited the recent surrenders of 276 personalities from the towns of Tapaz, Capiz and Calinog, Iloilo, saying this increased the momentum of PRO-6’s campaign against insurgency.
To achieve their goal this year, Miranda appealed the region’s men and women of PRO-6: “Give your full commitment to make our performance better.”/PN
