Student charged for taking bikes to finance vice

CEBU, Philippines - Carnapping charges were filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office Friday afternoon against a 19-year-old high school student who allegedly stole two motorcycles in Minglanilla town.

Ric Jhon Flores, a resident of  Ermita, Cebu City, is currently detained at the Minglanilla Police Station following the filing of criminal complaints for violating Republic Act 6539, or the Anti-Carnapping Law against him.

He is currently detained at the Minglanilla Police Station stockade pending a commitment order from the court for him to be remanded to the Cebu Provincial Jail.

Minglanilla police said that Flores also told them that he stole the motorcycles to support his addiction to illegal drugs and for his school allowance.

Interviewed by the police, his mother said the family actually attended to Flores’ financial needs, but he ended up spending his money on drugs.

Flores allegedly stole the motorcycle of Jeovane Estiola of  Phase 1, Deca Homes Subdivision in Barangay Tungkil, Minglanilla last Wednesday.

Residents, though, saw the crime and arrested Flores, who was already subdued when PO2 Nikki Carlo Plarisan and other officers from Minglanilla Police Station came to Deca Homes after receiving a call from a concerned citizen.

Flores allegedly admitted trying to steal Estiola’s motorcycle, which was recovered, and likewise owned up the taking of another motorcycle last week.

Flores said he was also the one who took the Yamaha Mio motorcycle of Manolito Romarate, also of  Deca Homes, last Feb. 11.

Minglanilla police, in coordination with Carbon Police Station personnel, recovered Romarate’s motorcycle from the buyer’s house in Ermita after a follow-up operation. (FREEMAN)