Yearender: TMG vows improved performance vs car thieves in 2008

The Traffic Management Group (TMG) had neutralized six criminal groups and in the process killed 15 of its members, making a big headway in the campaign against hijacking, highway robbery and other crimes in 2007.

But though satisfied with his men’s performance, TMG director Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad vowed to do better in year 2008.

He said his men are presently hot on the trail of at least 10 more criminal groups in the country, with three or four of them still operating in Metro Manila.

The TMG director described as “appalling” the yearly financial cost of crime involving the use of motor vehicles in the country.

“The greater loss, in terms of human resources, cannot be measured. The citizens, who have been victimized in these crimes are footing the crime bill,” said Palad in his accomplishment report for 2007.

The criminals, he said, have the intent of enriching themselves by predatory gains (and) took no holiday.

“(The criminals) kept working night and day, chipping away at the foundations of Filipino people with the chisels of lawlessness and greed,” he added.

Palad said the TMG had taken effective steps for next year, designed to further reduce the incidence of car theft and prevent the emergence of criminal groups involved in the said illegal activities.

“We will continue implementing plans and programs that were proven effective in bringing to new heights our effort to curb car thefts in the country,” he said.

First 120 days

Palad’s assumption as head of the TMG last August 28 immediately resulted to five initiated encounters with criminal groups, killing 15 suspects, arresting 53 car thieves and recovering 15 high-powered firearms and 168 motor vehicles, in the process.

Some of the recovered vehicles were already returned to their respective owners.

Under Palad’s leadership, the TMG has also filed 33 cases in court against suspected car thieves. Because of their relentless anti-car theft operations the TMG was also able to reduce the number of vehicles stolen monthly to 68, for an average of 2.08 per day, compared to three incidents per day in the same period last year.

While car theft incidents were greatly reduced, the TMG director said they still recorded three hijacking cases. Highway robbery went down by 34 incidents or 66 percent during his watch.

Aside from their accomplishments on car theft, hijacking and highway robbery, the TMG has also intensified its enforcements of the “No Plate, No Travel Policy” and recorded 7,763 apprehensions. The No Plate logged a total of 2,798 arrests or 36 percent of the total apprehensions.

The TMG also stepped up its drive against illegal drag racing resulting to the seizure of 30 motor vehicles and motorcycles in Commonwealth and Mindanao Ave. in Quezon City and in Macapagal Blvd. in Parañaque City.

Palad reported that they have seized 100 sirens, four blinkers and 116 fog lights because of the TMG’s Text Wangwang project, which recorded more than 300 text messages regarding complaints on unauthorized use of said equipment.

Over-all accomplishment

For the year 2007, the TMG reported that a total of 797 car theft incidents were recorded or down by 555 incidents, which translate to 41.05 percent from last year’s 1,352 cases. The daily average of vehicles stolen was down to 2.26 compared to 3.84 in 2006.

Palad said 649 of the vehicles were stolen while parked unattended, while the remaining 148 were seized at gunpoint.

The TMG said Metro Manila remained as the favorite hunting ground for car thieves with a total of 436 incidents or 54.71 percent of the 797 incidents. The rest were recorded in the other regions.

In the year 2006, vehicles stolen in Metro Manila was pegged at 432 or a drop of only four incidents.

The TMG said the Calabarzon area came next to Metro Manila with 185 car theft cases while Central Luzon was third with 128 incidents. However, out of the 464 motor vehicles stolen this year, 270 were recovered or a recovery rate of 58.19 percent.

On the other hand, out of 333 motorcycles stolen, the TMG recovered 160 for a recovery rate of 48.05 percent. The TMG also arrested 156 people and filed 112 car theft cases in various courts. In support of the over-all anti-crime campaign waged by

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said the TMG also arrested 111 people for crimes like qualified theft, anti-fencing, illegal possession of bladed weapons and firearms, estafa, frustrated murder, physical injuries and possession of illegal drugs. The TMG filed 83 cases in court in these cases.

Can’t be too complacent

Although Palad said he is satisfied with his men’s performance for year 2007, he admitted that they can’t afford to lower their guard against car theft syndicates, as he announced their target list of 10 criminals groups to neutralize next year.

“My intelligence agents are now in the field doing their work like surveillance and casing operations. We will engaged members of car theft syndicates when the right time comes,” said Palad.

Based on intelligence reports, car theft syndicates operating in Metro Manila are based in neighboring provinces of Bulacan and Cavite.

The car thieves, he said, operates mostly at night, grabbing at gunpoint their target vehicles from its driver while parked at secluded or unlighted streets.

Palad said he had coordinated with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) following findings that majority of their recovered newly-purchased stolen vehicles were properly armed with LTO documents like its official registration (OR) and certificate of registration (CR).

“The car theft syndicates were able to register their stolen cars in connivance with an LTO insider,” said Palad, adding that he coordinated with LTO chief Reynaldo Berroya to put a stop on the said modus operandi.

The TMG director said stolen old model cars ended up being cannibalized and sold to second-hand spare parts shops in Evangelista St. in Makati City and Banawe in Quezon City.

Optimism

In a bid to discipline his men, Palad expedited the summary hearing proceedings against his men involved in various cases like ‘kotong” and extortion.

This year alone, the TMG’s internal affairs office received 50 complaints against their personnel involving 177 people, with 19 of the cases now undergoing summary hearing proceedings.

Eight of the cases are “kotong” incidents.

However, while he is quick to punish erring personnel, Palad said he also hastens the promotions and regularly handed out awards and decorations to the deserving majority.

To deliver in their job, the TMG director also assigns personnel to the right job and positions. To professionalize and enhance the leadership skills of his officers and men, Palad encourage them to undergo service and specialized training here and abroad.

The TMG director also initiated a program to upgrade his officers and men’s “move, shoot, communicate and investigating capability,” to arm them with added skills in the war against car theft syndicates.

With all his programs and projects in place, Palad is confident that they have nowhere to go next year but success in the war against car theft syndicates.