Group of motorcycle “thieves” arrested

CEBU, Philippines - Police busted in Tabuelan town a motorcycle carnapping syndicate that reportedly operates in northern Cebu and in Cebu City.

Ronel Moniva, 28; his younger brother Nelson Moniva Jr., 24; Jerry Dela Cerna, 18; and a 16-year-old boy was taken to the police station after at least eight carnapped motorcycles were recovered from the suspects.

The operation to implement the search warrant against the group was led by Senior Inspector Welther Grapa, Tabuelan Police Station chief.

Past 8 p.m. on Friday, they implemented the search warrant, issued by Judge Ruben Altubar of the Regional Trial Court Branch 29 in Toledo, in the house of Nelson.

Police Officer 1 John Mark Asendiente, desk officer of Tabuelan Police station, said that when they served the search warrant, only Nelson and Dela Cerna were arrested. But an hour later Ronel’s older brother was also arrested in Barangay Bongon, Tabuelan town in a follow-up operation.

The minor was arrested the following day after he came back to Ronel’s house, said Assendiente.

Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac, Cebu Police Provincial Office Director, said that the four are believed to be members of a motorcycle carnapping ring that is responsible for the string of motorcycle thefts in Cebu.

Gillamac said the group operates in northern Cebu, but he believes that they also operate in Cebu City and is a “well-organized group.”

He said that the arrest of the four suspects is a result of the implementation of the “Oplan Lambat Sibat.”

Rey Mangas, 26, public school teacher of Danao City, went to CPPO headquarters after he knew from a colleague that his motorcycle was among those that were recovered by the police.

He identified his black XRM motorcycle, which was stolen outside of his house in Barangay Guinsay, Danao City recently.

He said that he parked his motorcycle outside of the house to attend to his visitors, but when he came back the motorcycle was gone.

Mangas said the cover of his motorcycle was already missing and the seat was removed and replaced in another carnapped motorcycle. But Mangas still thanked the police for solving the crime.

Gillamac, for his part, said that they will ask the Regional Crime Laboratory Office-7 to conduct macro-etching on the recovered motorcycles and motorcycle parts to determine its owners.

He urged those who lost their motorcycles to visit their provincial headquarters and have a look at the recovered vehicles.

Gillamac also hopes that the owners of the motorcycles file a case against the suspects so that they won’t be forced to release the suspects.

The public is urged by the Provincial Director to refrain from patronizing and buying undocumented motorcycles so that carnapping syndicates won’t flourish.  (FREEMAN)