Tagbilaran cops arrest minor suspect in motorcycle thievery

TAGBILARAN CITY , Philippines  —  Policemen have arrested last Wednesday a 16-year-old boy in his house at Barangay Manga in this city, for being a suspect in stealing motorcycles around the city over the past months.

Chief Inspector George Vale, City Police chief, told reporters that the teenager had admitted to being responsible to the series of thievery of mostly XRM motorcycles, but refused to divulge who were his partners and customers.

Vale said this men, under "Oplan Tracker" operations, caught the boy based on a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Leo Moises Lison of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 3 of this city last August 12. The court however put the minor's bail bond at P180,000.

The age of the boy, who is an out-of-school youth, was suspicious because he looked like an adult already, prompting Vale to verify the teener's real age.

Vale got information from the City Social Welfare Office that the teener had been arrested several times in the past for thievery but was freed always due to his being a minor.  (FREEMAN)