CAMP GARCIA, Cavite, Philippines — The Police Regional Office 4-A (PRO4-A) has gained early success in its operational strategies for Police Provincial Offices (PPOs) in the Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) region to clamp down on criminal activities.

In Cavite, some 96 so-called “hot” motorcycles were intercepted in a week’s time in the four cities and 19 towns where the PPO is implementing its “Oplan Checkmate,” said Senior Superintendent John C. Bulalacao, Cavite police director.

“The Oplan Checkmate is a brainchild of Chief Superintendent Gil C. Meneses to check and contain the so-called riding-in-tandem criminals in Calabarzon area,” said Bulalacao.

In Laguna, Sr. Supt. Gilberto Cruz said his PPO’s “Oplan Wild Cat” checkpoints have also lessened the commission of crimes and led to the recovery of 326 stolen motorcycles in the province over the past two months.

“We have to be active in checking motorcycles in our area of responsibilities because we all know that criminals are easy doing their illegal activities by using the said vehicle,” said Cruz.

In Rizal, Sr. Supt. Manuel Cesar Prieto said the PPO’s “Oplan Pin Down” has also brought down reported crimes involving riding-in-tandem culprits.

“Under our operational plan, our policemen distribute sticker-IDs to all motorcycle owners and other motorists for easy identification. They (motorists) also become our partners in reporting criminal activities they witnessed involving suspects riding in motorcycles,” said Prieto.

Supt. Rommel Estolano, chief information officer of the Rizal PPO, said this is alongside the implementation of Oplan Checkmate in the region.

In Quezon, the PPO the oplan has checked a total of 5,432 motorcycles in the first week of its implementation, said Sr. Supt. Ericson Velasquez.

Of this number, 3,870 motorcycles were issued stickers with control numbers as a mark that they have been checked against police records and cleared from involvement in crimes.

Supt. Michael B. Secillano, Cavite PPO Operations Branch chief, said Checkmate is a 24-hour, 7-day monitoring of motorcycles in all strategic locations.

This procedure targets criminals moving around with loose firearms, drugs and other prohibited items.

“If drivers do not have the required motorcycles' registration papers and license, much more without the Cavite police-given stickers and IDs, we will hold them at bay,” Secillano said.

Secillano and Chief Inspector Romulo C. Dimaya, PPO information officer and Mobile Patrol Group chief, led Tuesday’s presentation of the seized motorcycles at the impounding area in this camp. (With reports from Nel B. Andrade, Madelynne Dominguez, and Danny Estacio)