Police impounded at least 200 motorcycles and 30 tricycles and pedicabs during 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 lacked documents such as official receipts, certificates of registration and franchise permits.
Several drivers who were flagged down during the operation either carried no licenses or showed expired licenses, Placer said.
He said they will investigate if the vehicles had been stolen or modified.
Most stolen vehicles, reports said, had been brought to nearby Pikit town or in Datu Paglas and other towns of 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, 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 in Kidapawan City after authorities found out their ORs and CRs were issued using the ‘manual system, the CPPO said.
It alleged that many motorcycles are being used in transporting illegal drugs from Kabacan to nearby areas of the province.
It said the town is a “transshipment” point of drugs allegedly coming from Cotabato City and Maguindanao.
The highway check, which ran from 6 a.m. to 12noon, was based on the directive of acting police provincial director, Senior Supt. Emmanuel Peralta to rid the province of illegal drugs and help curb theft of motorcycles and other crimes. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)
