Naktaf extends checkpoints to ST

Four Army battalions and three composite companies from various units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were deployed yesterday to Southern Tagalog to man checkpoints which have been set up by the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (Naktaf) outside Metro Manila.

Naktaf chief Angelo Reyes, who personally led the deployment of the soldiers in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, said the extended checkpoint operations are designed to hamper the mobility of criminal elements and deny them the opportunity to commit crimes in and out of Metro Manila.

Apparently encouraged by the initial success of the checkpoints in Metro Manila, President Arroyo ordered Reyes to also set up checkpoints in Central Luzon and the Southern Tagalog.

Reyes said the checkpoints and other security measures imposed in Metro Manila has been a "resounding success."

He said 6,000 of the checkpoint personnel will come from the Philippine National Police-National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) while the rest will come from the AFP’s newly reactivated National Capital Region Defense Command.

The AFP has provided 31 teams of soldiers from the Army’s 80th Infantry Battalion on special detail with the NCRPO. Each team will be composed of eight AFP personnel.

NCRPO chief Director Ricardo de Leon echoed Reyes’ statement that the checkpoints have hampered criminal operations in the metropolis.

"Based on our experience, criminal groups, like bank robbers, often hide and lie low in safehouses in these nearby regions after their heists. Having checkpoints in these areas could prevent this from happening," De Leon said.

The NCRPO had set up 11 major checkpoint in strategic areas around Metro Manila, mainly on key entry and exit points.

The checkpoints are now being manned by an estimated 7,000 combined personnel from the PNP and the AFP.

Supporting the checkpoints are 516 members of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams drawn from various police commands and specially trained in anti-kidnapping operations.

Conduction Stickers

Reyes, accompanied by Southern Tagalog police director Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Varilla and 202nd Army Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Efren Orbon, also met with with officials of car maker Toyota Motors Philippines in Laguna to propose stricter control in the use of car conduction stickers.

Reyes assured Toyota officials, led by David Go, of their safety after reports that kidnapping gangs are threatening to abduct foreign investors in the Calabarzon area.

"I’m here upon the instruction of the President to assure you here that the government is serious in its anti-crime campaign, especially against kidnapping and bank robbery syndicates," Reyes told the Toyota executives.

Reyes told the Toyota executives that some criminal elements use vehicles with conduction stickers as an excuse for not sporting license plates.

"These cars with only conduction stickers are usually being used by criminals in their illegal activities," Reyes said.

Conduction stickers are used by car manufacturers to allow buyers of new cars and vehicles to drive them home pending the acquisition of license plates.

The stickers are being purchased by car manufacturers from the Land Transportation Office to allow the new vehicles to be driven from the factory to showrooms and outlets.

Reyes said Naktaf is planning to to propose the prohibition of all vehicles with only conduction stickers.

"At the soonest possible time, we will require all car dealers to have license plates for all units sold before they allow their buyers to drive their newly purchased cars home," he said.

Toyota officials said they are open to the suggestion made by Reyes and will make arrangements with the LTO to support the plan.