Caloocan to crack down on motorcycle riders

MANILA, Philippines - Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri directed yesterday the local police force to be strict on motorcycle riders, particularly those riding tandem, because of the spate of crimes in the metropolis involving them.

“With stricter screenings and habitual checks on motorcycle riders, police authorities would be able to preempt any criminal activity not only in Caloocan but also in other localities,” Echiverri said.

Two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen killed Samuel Delana, 44, a village officer and a local political leader, in broad daylight in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City North.

Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Antonio Decano created a special probe team with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group as the lead investigator, but more than a week has passed since Delana’s murder and police have yet to identify his killers.

The NPD already came up with a sketch of one of the killers based on the description provided by at least three witnesses and Echiverri also offered a P200,000 reward but the probe team remains empty-handed.

Echiverri personally asked city police chief Senior Superintendent Jude Santos yesterday to keep a close watch “round-the-clock on motorcycle riders in all corners of the city.”