PRO-7 eyes to curb “riding in tandem”

Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) will double their efforts in curbing “riding-in-tandem” shooting incidents as directed by Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald Dela Rosa.

The mandate came after President Rodrigo Duterte tasked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the sole law enforcement agency that will conduct anti-illegal drug operations.

The PNP’s anti-illegal drug campaign previously drew public outrage for glaring human rights violations committed by some police. The alleged police abuse also caused the recent 18-point drop on Duterte’s satisfaction ratings, based on an independent survey conducted.

Senior Superintendent Jonathan Cabal, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division, said that drug groups are also in conflict with each other, and described riding-intandem incidents as “turf wars”.

“In the drug war, may intra-drug wars. When you say intra, (it’s) between drug syndicates,” Cabal said.

Cabal added that most of the time, conflicts stem from unremitted illegal drug sales.

“They negate each other for turf war o mga tinatawag na unremitted na mga drug transactions. Yun yong mga cases ng mga riding in tandem,” Cabal said.

Aside from targeting riding in tandem suspects, the PNP will also shift its focus to anti-criminality, counterinsurgency, and terrorism.

Cabal said that police will devote their attention to trace the top ten most wanted persons per region.

“With the guidance and directive of the Chief PNP (Ronald Dela Rosa), we will go after them, sabi ko nga sa mga intelligence officers na we will be enhancing our manhunt operations against sa mga most wanted persons,” Cabal said.