Mandaluyong cops to get more bikes

Concerned over the rash of robberies done by motorcycle-riding men, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos Jr. vowed yesterday to provide policemen with additional motorcycles to make them effective in patrolling city streets.

Abalos’ promise came after armed men riding on three motorcycles robbed a businessman Tuesday of P940,000 he had just withdrawn from a bank along Gen. Kalentong street.

The young mayor made his vow to Superintendent Jose Gentiles, Mandaluyong City police chief, who briefed him of the robbery committed on Gener Villegas, 44, a resident of Barangay Poblacion.

"The mayor is concerned about the robbery problem. He said it’s about time the robbers be neutralized and the additional motorcycles would be a big lift for us," said Gentiles.

Gentiles said the motorcycles would augment the 12 four-door patrol cars he fields 24-hours a day to patrol busy streets and for police visibility purposes. The station’s four motorcycles are assigned to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and the follow-up division.

"It would be our advantage if we could have more motorcycles because they can avoid traffic and go through alleys, unlike cars," said Gentiles.

The police chief said he will also encourage policemen who personally own motorcycles and scooters, to use them in their work to increase their chance of catching robbery suspects.

"I will provide the needed gasoline for their machines," said Gentiles.

Villegas had just withdrawn money from a PCIBank branch when the four suspects blocked his silver Kia Pregio van (plate number WBU 851) along Harapin ang Bukas street and at gunpoint ordered him to hand over the money. The suspects also grabbed his cellphone to prevent him from calling for police assistance.

Gentiles ruled out the possibility that bank employees could be in cahoots with the robbers.

"It was not the same bank. If two or three incidents involved the same bank, then maybe, we can speculate that some employees are helping the criminals," said Gentiles. – Non Alquitran