14 nabbed over truckload of stolen toys

MANILA, Philippines - Fourteen men were arrested in Malabon City Monday for allegedly stealing a truck full of toys from a distributor’s shop in Quezon City, officials said yesterday.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said the cargo, including battery-operated toys and bicycles supposed to be distributed to malls in Metro Manila in time for the Christmas season, was worth around P700,000. 

Pagdilao said the 14 men were arrested during a follow-up operation in Malabon on Monday morning following a car theft that same day. 

The 14 men were Roberto Florentino, Andy Arevalo, Romeo Fernandez, Joseph Barola, Ryan Martin, Michael Santeanez, Rommel Razon, Diolo Pinar, Norman Monteclar, Nelson Delos Reyes, Leo Nepumuceno, Ronald Arenas, Jolly Velasco and Christopher Condesa. 

Before their arrest, Marlon Villanueva of the toy distributor Kid’s Gallery reported to the police the theft of a parked Isuzu van containing the toys at around 4 a.m., said Superintendent Wilson Delos Santos, commander of the QCPD Station 7.

Pagdilao said Florentino was later on identified as the one who allegedly sneaked into the parked van with a cohort, destroying its door’s lock to get inside. 

Delos Santos said a global positioning system device was installed in the van and it was through this that police managed to trace the vehicle to Longos, Malabon. 

A follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of the suspects, who were caught unloading the toys from the truck. 

Delos Santos said they also found out, based on text messages from Florentino’s phone, that the suspect had been trying to sell the stolen toys. 

Pagdilao said the suspects are facing complaints for robbery, car theft and violation of the anti-fencing law.