Mar orders crackdown on ‘colorum’ tricycles

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II has ordered a crackdown against colorum tricycles, some of which are being used by criminals in their unlawful activities.

Roxas also directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to deploy more police officers in barangays to ensure police visibility.

Police recorded incidents where drug addicts driving colorum tricycles have picked up female passengers, who were later robbed and sexually abused, similar to the case of a Roxas City student last Dec. 19 and University of Sto. Tomas honors graduate Cyrish Magalang last Oct. 30.

The victim in Dao, Capiz was raped and stabbed 21 times last Wednesday while on her way to Barangay Lawaan. She survived the attack and is now receiving treatment at a local hospital.

The Capiz Police Provincial Office already arrested one of the suspects’ cohorts, identified as Jessie dela Cruz, 30, of Punta Tabuk, Roxas City. The police are also conducting follow up operations to capture the tricycle driver.

Magalang was robbed, attacked and killed by the driver of a colorum tricycle she boarded on her way home in Bacoor, Cavite.

Tricycle driver Roel Gacita, 24, and his brother Rollyn, 27, a vegetable vendor, were arrested a few days later in their house in Barangay Molino 6 in Bacoor City.