Navotas mayor, aide nab snatchers in Caloocan

It took the mayor of Navotas on board his security vehicle and a motorcyle-riding security aide to nail down two dreaded snatchers on board a tricycle Thursday night in Caloocan City.

"Kahit hindi ko lugar, gagawin ko ang ginawa ko kagabi. Malas lang nila (suspects) at napadaan ako dun," said Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco on the incident.

Although the feat did not earn a raise in the salary of Tiangco’s civilian escort, Andrew Gutay, 28, who was on board his big bike tailing the mayor’s security vehicle, the mayor commended Gutay for his quickness in responding to the situation.

"Hindi ako nagkamali sa pagpili sa kanya," the mayor said.

Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, Caloocan City Station Investigation and Intelligence Division (SIID) chief, identified the suspects as Conrado Venzon, 26, tricycle driver; and Richard Canary, 19, jobless, both residents of Lakas ng Mahirap street, Caloocan City, long believed to be the bane of hapless students in the vicinity of the University of the East (UE) Caloocan Campus along Samson Road.

The victim, still giddy with fear when invited to give her statement to the police, was identified as Myra Silverio, 21, a student at the University of the East and resident of 14 Zapote street, Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City. She was beside herself after knowing that her knights in shining armor were Tiangco and his hulking civilian escort who gave back her bag with its contents, a Nokia cellphone, some jewelry and an undetermined amount of cash, intact.

Tiangco narrated to The STAR he was cruising on board his car along Samson Road just past the Caloocan City police station on his way to Monumento at around 7:30 p.m. when he spotted the suspects as they sped away after grabbing the bag of the scared stiff Silverio, then walking along the roadside. He then set up Gutay to intercept the fleeing suspects. Gutay gave chase and blocked the path of the getaway tricycle speeding towards University Hills Subdivision just beside the UE campus. The two rammed Gutay, who quickly recovered and pounced on the duo single handedly.

The two suspects cowered in fear when the tall and stocky Gutay slammed them down bodily to the ground. Gutay turned over the two to a local watchman and accompanied them to the nearby police station.

Borromeo said the two could be responsible for the series of snatching incidents along Samson Road using the same modus operandi.

The suspects’ vehicle, a Suzuki motorcycle with sidecar, was impounded at the police station. The suspects are now detained while appropriate charges are being readied against them.