2 arrested for stealing wires in Sibonga town

Two persons were arrested in barangay Bagacay, Sibonga town, yesterday morning for allegedly stealing wires of a farm owned by the town mayor.

PO3 Darlene Banogon yesterday told The Freeman that the suspects were identified as Roland Alferes, 31, and his cousin Genes Alferes, 23, both residents of the place.

Banogon said it was Bagacay barangay Captain Sammy Bacacao who arrested the suspects, after they allegedly stole the cable wires from a prawn farm of Mayor Nestor Ponce worth P3,000.

She added that the suspects were responsible for stealing cable, copper and electrical wires of their place.

She stressed that Roland was imprisoned in New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa for stealing a cellular phone and fighting cocks while Genes was detained at the provincial jail for also stealing fighting cocks. The two were released last year.

Bacacao told The Freeman that his barangay was beset by incidents of wire theft, prompting them to conduct a surveillance operation to identify the perpetrators.

He said he made an investigation after his secretary, Aquilles Mendez, informed him early morning yesterday that the wires from the prawn farm of the mayor were stolen.

Bacacao said that when he approached Roland who was drinking coconut wine at a friend's house, the suspect owned up to stealing the wires but he said that he acted alone.

Bacacao said that Roland told him that there are other groups that are stealing wires in their place, and admitted that it was him and Genes who burglarized the Country Livestock and Development Corp., Inc., owned by Paterno Kintanar Jr.

The barangay captain said the establishment lost assorted wires and the motor of the grill mixer amounting to P700,000.

Charges are now prepared against the suspects after Ponce, Kintanar and other alleged victims of the suspects showed willingness to file a case against them. - Norvie S. Misa