Upsurge in crimes prompts MPD to revive motorbike cops

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Police District (MPD) will reactivate the station’s motorized police officers to address the reported upsurge in street crimes in the Binondo and Sta. Cruz districts.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla will personally lead this morning’s re-launching of the Motorized Anti-Street Crimes Operatives (Masco) at the Meisic police station in Binondo, with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome witnessing the event.

Masco is composed of specially trained policemen in each of the MPD’s 11 police stations who will patrol the city streets 24/7 in full battle gear on motorcycles, according to MPD spokesman Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo.

Masco’s reactivation followed reports from concerned Manila residents, especially the Filipino-Chinese community, on the upsurge of street crimes in their areas.

On Oct. 25, a Tsinoy fruit stall owner was gunned down in Binondo. A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) station, a jewelry store and an auto supply shop in Binondo and Sta. Cruz were robbed by men riding tandem on motorcycles. All the cases remain unsolved, according to the Filipino-Chinese community.

“I have ordered my men to be always on alert, especially the police station commanders. They were instructed to maximized deployment of their policemen in crime-prone areas,” Rongavilla told The STAR.

With the Masco concept, at least four to six armed motorized policemen will patrol their area of jurisdiction 24/7 and be on alert against motorcyclists riding in tandem, Margarejo said.