ARMM police expands security functions with `cops on motorcycles'

MAGUINDANAO --- The police has started organizing teams of scouts on motorcycles to beef up its anti-narcotics and counter-terrorism efforts in five security-challenged southern provinces.The Police Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-ARMM) trained from March 6 to 9 a pioneer batch of 76 officers on motorcycle patrol and tactical riding maneuvers to boost its domestic security initiatives. That was just an initial activity intended to complement our peacekeeping functions. We are planning to train more in the coming months, Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, director of the ARMM police, said.The ARMM covers the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both in mainland Mindanao, and the islands of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the far south.The five provinces are beset with peculiar security issues, including clan wars and emerging misguided fanatical jihadist blocs engaged in kidnap-for-ransom, trafficking of shabu, extortion and vehicle theft.Sindac said the primary purpose of their first ever motorcycle patrol proficiency training is to maximize the visibility and the reaction preparedness of personnel with critical public safety missions.The training, held at the parade grounds of the ARMM police headquarters in Camp S.K. Pendatun in Parang town in Maguindanao, was jointly supervised by Sindac and Superintendent Ryan Ador of the region’s Highway Patrol Group (HPG).Sindac was a former motorcycle-riding operative of the HPG in the Philippine National Police.Among the senior officers of PRO-ARMM who volunteered to undergo the training was Senior Superintendent Rudelio Jocson, who is Sindac’s deputy for administration. The training is something first ever in the autonomous region, Sindac said.Sindac said he is thankful to the officers and rank-and-file personnel of the HPG-ARMM for helping facilitate the training involving police personnel from across the autonomous region.