TAGUM CITY— Inspector Cosme Masepiquena, head of Tagum’s Traffic Management Office, said the strict implementation of Oplan Sita in Tagum City will put a stop to the increasing number of criminal incidents involving motorbikes and riding-in-tandem groups.
“Oplan Sita really helped us a lot in preventing street crimes and nabbing violators in this city. There is already a big percentage of violators that were apprehended since the implementation of Oplan Sita,” says Masepiquena.
Masepiquena noted that common violations they encountered were “driving without license, without plate and carrying firearms without permit documents.”
He noted that some drug carriers are “using motorcycles or any type of public vehicles without plate numbers.”
“We have also nabbed identified suspects carrying or transporting illegal drugs through Oplan Sita. This is something that we are looking forward to combat crimes,” adds Masepiquena.
The Tagum’s Traffic Management Office has strengthened its operations against colorum tricycle drivers and transport and trade of illegal drugs, loose firearms through regular conduct of checkpoints.
Masepiquena explains that Oplan Sita is part of Tagum’s campaign against crimes. “Criminals are mostly using motorcycles, that’s why we intensified the inspection on vehicles,” he says.
But for Clark Santos, 28, a college student here, said that “authorities should be visible during nighttime because criminals are known to do their illegal activities at night.”
It can be recalled that on year 2011, the Tagum City Police was alarmed by the spike of crimes in this city “involving the use of firearms, street crimes and those perpetrated by motorcycle-riding criminals.”
“Motorists should follow road guidelines as mandated in Presidential Decree 96. This as we aim to thwart suspected lawless elements using motorcycles, particularly those riding in tandem without helmets,” he said.–MART D. SAMBALUD/davaotoday.com
