4 tankers seized over bunker oil theft

Manila Police District personnel, in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), have seized four oil tankers allegedly involved in the theft of bunker oil in a recent operation in Sta. Ana, Manila.

The seized tankers and their contents will be turned over to the BOC, according to Superintendent Ernesto Tendero Jr., officer-in-charge of the MPD’s District Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (DAOCTF).

For more than two weeks, the DAOCTF put an oil tanker (TAC-984) under surveillance following intelligence reports of its involvement in the pilferage of its bunker oil deliveries at different depots in Pandacan and Sta. Ana.

The DAOCTF monitored the tanker on its way to the compound of Larrianes Marketing, owned by Ma. Theresa Enriquez, in Panaderos, Sta. Ana.

Tendero said they have observed the tanker’s crew, Eduardo delos Reyes and Jose delos Reyes, attach a hose to the tanker. They were in the process of siphoning off the contents when they were arrested. The two confessed stealing the oil in connivance with the owner of the compound.

The police also seized three other tankers – with license plates WPL-266, NWJ-268 and DFA-928 – suspected of illegal deliveries of bunker oil to the compound.

Tendero said Enriquez denied the allegations and even presented documents to prove the legitimacy of her business. However, he said it will be up to the BOC to determine the criminal liability of the suspects.    – Nestor Etolle