Crackdown on dubious car plates

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco yesterday ordered all district directors to inspects all types of vehicles with dubious plate numbers in a bid to further intensify the anti-criminality campaign in the metropolis.

Heeding the call of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. for enhanced police operations against street crimes, Velasco instructed all district headquarters, particularly members of the Traffic Enforcement Group in Metro Manila, to conduct background checks on all types of vehicles as part of the NCRPO’s anti-carnapping and anti-crime campaigns.

He said the need for a crackdown on people using dubious plates was brought about by the fact that organized criminal syndicates are known to use stolen vehicles when committing crimes.

Velasco ordered his men to accost and conduct a background investigation on drivers of vehicles with no plates, those using makeshift and spurious plate numbers, and those using only conduction stickers.

He said these are means by which members of criminal syndicates attempt to escape detection.

Velasco also ordered district directors to maintain police visibility by conducting patrols in crime-prone areas in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

"Metro Manilans should feel safe out on the streets, assured of the presence of dedicated cops and knowing that lawless elements will not be given an opportunity to pounce on them," he said, adding that the 36 percent increase in crimes against property noted by the PNP chief is no small matter.

The NCRPO director clarified that, despite the posted increase in rate of crimes against property, the Metro Manila police notched a 95.8 percent crime solution efficiency rating for the last quarter of 2002, compared with the same period in 2001 when it was only 85 percent. – Non Alquitran