Suspected snatcher yields  marijuana stick

A suspected snatcher yielded a marijuana stick after he was caught in the act of stealing a cellular phone at F. Gonzales corner Quezon Boulevard, barangay Santo Niño, Cebu City last Tuesday.

Responding personnel from the Waterfront Police Station identified the suspect as Wendell Pirante Morre, 30, a resident in the area.

SPO2 Rene Cerna said that at around 1:30 p.m., the suspect was seen by the responding police officers in the act of snatching a cellular phone from the unidentified girl who was walking along Quezon Boulevard.

Policemen led by Cerna immediately chased the suspect. But during the brief chase, the suspect allegedly threw away the cellular phone of the girl.

A bystander took the cellular phone and returned it to the victim who, according to Cerna, immediately walked away from the scene.

After his arrest, the suspect was subjected to a body search but policemen recovered a hand-rolled of marijuana leaf from him.

The police said the suspect already had a previous record for illegal possession of shabu.

But the suspect, who claimed to be a fruit “kargador,” denied the allegation, saying he had no intention to snatch the girl’s phone.

“Gihilantan man gud akong anak, wala’y ipalit ug tambal. Wala sad trabaho akong asawa, ako lang ang gisaligan,” he added.

He also said he was never a user of illegal drugs, not even a pusher.

Police are preparing a charge of illegal possession of dangerous drug against the suspect. — Joy Kareen T. Saliente/LPM