Bataoil tells cops: Stop hitmen-riding-in-tandem
AGUILAR–The rising incidence of killings involving hitmen-riding-in-tandem (HRIT) in the province has become alarming.
This was the view expressed by Second District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, a retired police general who served as director for Pangasinan and Region 1, who said many of his constituents are already apprehensive about security in their communities knowing that criminals continue to move around freely riding in tandem on motorcycles.
Bataoil called on the provincial police command to launch an intensive campaign against the HRITs when he spoke during the inauguration of the new three-storey police station here on Tuesday, attended by Police Regional Director Franklin Bucayu and Superintendent Michael Nicolas, officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan police.
“They (hired killers) should be on the run, the ones cowering in fear and in hiding and not the people,” said Bataoil.
He cited the cases of former Lingayen Mayor Ramon Arcinue and his wife Barangay Chairman Zorahaida Arcinue who were killed by a hitman in Metro Manila; including some of his own poltical allies in Urbiztondo; a barangay chairman in Bugallon who survived an attacked by unidentified hired killers riding in tandem.
Bataoil also noted that when he was police director of Region 1, Mayor Julian Resuello of San Carlos City was shot in cold blood by hired killers at the city auditorium during a fiesta coronation ceremony.
He lamented that although the suspect, Angel Soriano, was arrested a few days after the killing and found positive of powder burns, the Resuello family has not received justice.
CHECKPOINTS
Even as Bataoil acknowledged that the police force is working to neutralize the hired killers, he called on the police to intensify their intelligence gathering in identifying the safehouses of suspected hitmen in order that search warrants could be served on them.
He commended the Philippine National Police for conducting continuing visibility and checkpoints as well as updating their orders of battle against the hired criminals but also reminded them that pursuing vigilance against hired killers should be “under the parameter of our legal system”.
Bucayu, for his part, said police checkpoints in the province result in daily arrests of motorcycle riders for various vilolations and he recommended to local government units that ordinances mandating compulsory registration of motorcycles in police stations be adopted.
He added that the Regional Peace and Order Council is discussing the adoption of the Ilocos Norte experience where the local government is itself leading the campaign against Partisan Armed Groups (PAGs) as a template.
The inauguration was also attended by Board Member Raul Sison representing Gov. Amado Espino Jr., Aguilar Mayor Eduardo Ballesteros, and former Board Member Roberto Sison.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
