PNP impound 200 motorbikes, 30 trikes, pedicabs in N. Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Authorities impounded at least 200 motorcycles and 30 tricycles andpedicabsduring the, Oplan Lambat Bitag Sasakyan , in Kabacan town in North Cotabato on Friday.Chief Inspector Bryan Placer, Kabacan municipal police station chief, said most of the vehicles lack documents, including official receipts and certificate of registration, and franchise permits for passenger tricycles and pedicabs.Several drivers who were flagged down during the operation also failed to present their licenses. Many have expired drivers’ licenses, too, according to Placer.He said they have yet to find out if these vehicles had been stolen or had been modified.Most stolen vehicles, reports added, had been brought to nearby Pikit town or in Datu Paglas and other towns in Maguindanao province where they underwent ‘alterations’ and ‘modifications’ before they are sold to clients.The Oplan Lambat in Kabacan was the second since last week, reports from the Cotabato Police Provincial Office (CPPO) said.The CPPO reported that on Monday at least 150 motorcycles were impounded at the Pikit municipal police station during the operation.Of the number, two motorcycles were brought to the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in Kidapawan City after authorities found out their ORs and CRs were issued using the ‘manual system, the CPPO said.Also, police said many motorcycles are also used in transporting illegal drugs from Kabacan to nearby areas in the province.The town of Kabacan has become a ‘transhipment’ of drugs allegedly coming from Cotabato City and Maguindanao, the CPPO reports said.The highway check, which started around 6 a.m., and ended 12 noon, Friday, was based on the directive of CPPO acting provincial director, Senior Superintendent Emmanuel Peralta, to rid the province of illegal drugs and help curb stealing of motorcycles and other criminalities.