‘Notorious thief’ eludes arrest in Mandaue raid

CEBU, Philippines – A notorious robber was able to elude arrest when the police were supposed to serve a warrant of arrest against him in his hideout in Sitio Tambis, Barangay Umapad, Mandaue City last Friday morning.

Lyndon Bacalla, target of the said operation, was able to run away after sensing the arrival of the team of P/Insp. Zenaido Sanchez , head of the Theft and Robbery Section of the Mandaue City Police Office.

It was learned that during the operation, the police were able to recover two motorcycles and other chopped motorcycle accessories in his hideout located inside the vicinity of the Umapad landfill.

Sanchez said aside from Bacalla, three other cohorts were also the target of their operation because they have been conducting a close monitoring of their group while waiting for the release of Bacalla's warrant of arrest for a murder case that he was involved in before.

Aside from stealing motorcycles, the group is also reportedly involved in robberies.

"Lisod gyud kaayo isud sa basurahan (dumpsite) kay makit- an niya ta. Lisod pud tirahan ang suspek kay daghan kaayo'g tawo," Sanchez said.

"Ang mga tawo pud sa dumpsite, di manulti kay nahadlok sa suspek kay armado man gud," he added.

However, Sanchez said they have already tasked a civilian volunteer to conduct a monitoring in the area just in case the suspects will return to the place.

Sanchez also said that they will be tracing the real owners of the said motorcycles through their plate numbers.

"Ug gikarnap ning mga motora, ug kung sila maoy mikawat niani, amu sila file-lan og carnapping case," Sanchez said.