Editorial - Cat and mouse

Based on media reports, which in turn are based on police records, there seems to be a spike in the number of holdup cases on board passenger jeepneys in Cebu. Oddly enough, in none of the reported cases have corresponding arrests been made.

The question now begs to be asked — is the police still on top of the situation? What has happened to the checkpoints the police used to conduct? More importantly, where have all the motorcycle cops gone.

Short of having police marshals ride shotgun on board jeepneys, checkpoints and motorcycle policemen are perhaps the only viable methods so far employed to counter this type of criminal activity.

But the success of these methods depends on one very crucial thing, and that is consistency. The police has to be consistent with its checkpoints and roving motorcycle cops as the criminals are themselves very vigilant.

The moment the criminals detect that the police have loosened up a bit in implementing the only methods that seemed to have worked, they will promptly move in to reclaim the momentum they have lost.

Nowhere does the expression “when the cat is away the mouse will play” find a greater example than in the on again, off again “catch us if you can” games the criminals and the cops play with each other.

Unfortunately, the situation can hardly be called a game, especially when the victims are very real people who suffer greatly when the criminals get the upper hand. If this is a game to the police, they should at least make sure it is a game they are winning.

But to make sure the police win, they should not only be consistent with their winning methods, they should press their advantage even more. Checkpoints should be conducted daily and at all times within a 24-period. And motorcycle cops should go around in even greater numbers.