Six nabbed for stealing lampposts

Police have arrested since December at least six pesons suspected of being behind the series of theft of lampposts along the ceremonial routes for the delegates to next week's Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.

Operatives from the Waterfront Police Station earlier arrested Marcianito Luengo Ymbong, 33, of Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, and Archie Casella, Gin Martinez and Dexter Quiroga, all residents of Magallanes in barangay Ermita.

The four were arrested by a team composed of SPO1 Fernando Velarde, SPO1 Rene Cerna, PO3 Romulado Anana, PO2 Witzel Berry and PO1 Jethro Puao last December 30 while stealing the lampposts installed by the city government at the corner of Magallanes and F.Gonzales Streets.

Since November last year, some police stations have received several complaints regarding the pilferage of newly installed lampposts, which are intended to beautify the city for the upcoming ASEAN summit.

After the arrest, Ymbong guided the police to the Ayala Access Road in barangay Hipodromo where the stolen lampposts are sold.

Policemen then arranged an entrapment operation that resulted to the arrest on January 2 of Roger Ohaw Olarole and Adrianne Monisit Montemayor, who are reportedly working at Fondanar Junkshop owned by a certain Marites Ferlon.

The four suspects earlier arrested were already charged for theft while the two employees of the junkshop were charged for violation of the Anti-Fencing Law.

Waterfront Police Station chief Supt. Pedrillo Villamor has sought for the closure of the junkshop. - Edwin Ian Melecio/LPM