SWAT motorcycles from City Hall still unregistered

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu City Hall has allowed the use of the newly purchased 44 units of still unregistered motorcycles that were issued to policemen tasked to patrol the city’s crime-prone areas hoping that they can help reduce the crime volumes in the city.

Rolly Ardoza, head of the City Hall’s General Services Office, said the dealers of said motorcycles are the ones tasked to register the units with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), but until yesterday they have yet to comply.

The motorcycles were issued to the members of the Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) team days after the foiled robbery that took place at Robinson’s Place in Fuente Osmeña two weeks ago.

Ardoza had ordered one of his personnel to coordinate with the dealers of the said vehicles for them to speed up the processing of the necessary documents before the LTO.

The XR-200 motorcycles are being used by policemen without plate numbers in violation of the government’s “no plate, no travel” policy.

The Freeman interviewed some of the policemen who were issued with the unregistered motorcycles and said they should not be blamed.

“Gipagamit ra man ni namo. Sila maoy angay motan-aw nga kompleto na ang dukomento (They just handed this to us, it is their responsibility to make sure the documents are in order),” one of the policemen said.

Since the motorcycles are not yet registered, these have yet to be insured.

“Kon makaaksidente na nga mga motor nga gipagamit sa polis aw City Hall ang manubag (The City Hall will have to answer should one of the motorcycles meet an accident),” a City employee said.– (FREEMAN)