Malabon CVAC nabs drug user cellphone snatcher

Members of the Civilian Volunteers Against Crime (CVAC) arrested yesterday an alleged notorious cellphone snatcher in Malabon City.

Suspect Maynard Macaraig, 22, of 135 Daang Bakal st., 8th Avenue, Grace Park, Caloocan City, was beaten black and blue by a certain Raymundo Salaysay, whom he tagged as the buyer of the latest cellphone he snatched, but who vehemently denied it.

Dario Llado and Oscar Saberecio, CVAC members, arrested Macaraig at about 7 a.m. while he was allegedly awaiting for another victim at Phase 2, Paradise Village, Barangay Tonsuya, Malabon.

Macaraig’s arrest came after Jojo Sarcelia, 24, of L.R. Yangco st., Navotas, reported to the CVAC that the snatcher of his cellphone was sighted near the civilian anti-crime group office.

The CVAC members immediately conducted a surveillance of the area that resulted in the arrest of the suspect.

During interrogation at the CVAC office, the suspect allegedly admitted divesting Sarcelia of his cellphone and selling it to a cellphone store in Malabon.

Accompanied by CVAC members, Macaraig went to the said store but its owner, Salaysay, was not around.

The Malabon police, however, learning about the case, reportedly intervened and brought the suspect to their headquarters only a stone’s throw away from Salaysay’s cellphone store.

Moments later, Salaysay arrived armed with a baton and allegedly mauled the suspect in front of Malabon policemen as he denied buying from Macaraig the stolen cellphone. Macaraig sustained bruises and contusions all over his body.

Superintendent Gene Ines Abrajano, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Northern Field Office chief, informed of the incident, ordered the CVAC men to bring Macaraig to his office for proper investigation.

At the CIDG office, Regina Enriquez, 45, of Magat Salamat st., Daang Hari, Navotas, another cell phone snatching victim, arrived and positively identified Macaraig as the one who had also robbed her and her daughter of their cellphones.

Macaraig, a confessed drug user and pusher, readily admitted the crime. When frisked by CIDG agents, Macaraig yielded three sachets of shabu. –Pete Laude