Police nab thieves, ‘online sabong’ bettors

CEBU, Philippines — The police have arrested six individuals believed to be notorious in synchronized stealing after they were caught in a closed-circuit television footage pocketing at least P26,000 worth of items in Barangay Carbon, Bogo City last Thursday afternoon.

The suspects are identified as Rostum Mendaros, 27; Ruel Lumapas, 38; Rica Rivera, 39; Myrna Casoy, 54; Gemma Baac, 36,and Liezl Torres, 39.

They were arrested after an establishment in the area conducted an inventory and found out that some of their stocks were missing without a record of purchase.

Police Major Timothy Aniway Jr. said they have already filed the charges of theft against the suspects instead of robbery.

“Yung modus nila ay ma-consider na syndicate kasi synchronized movement,” said Aniway.

Aniway also said their strategy includes one who serves as a lookout, another one to distract as cover up while the others do the actual stealing.

Currently, the police are conducting a follow-up investigation after information surfaced that two of the six suspects have pending warrants of arrest for the same acts in Cebu City.

“Yung modus operandi nila ay considered na notorious pagdating sa mga ganitong activities, considering na yung gawain nila, yung movements ay plantsado na, baka hindi lang sila anim, baka may hawak din sa kanila,” said Aniway.

Aniway also said that during their interrogation, the suspects were hesitant to divulge further details regarding their illegal activity leading them to a possibility that there could be someone behind their group.

Online sabong

Meanwhile, another six individuals were apprehended after they were caught in action betting money and watching online cockfights at Purok Tabay 2, Barangay Inayagan, Naga City late evening of Thursday.

Around 11:55 p.m., Naga City police personnel with the City Health Office and Contact Tracer staff of the Department of Interior and Local Government-7 conducted a contact tracing and posting of home quarantine protocols in the said place.

During the rounds, they caught Alex Jhun Gutierrez, 25; Joeriz Geonzon, 30; Warlito Ubas, 38; Gerardo Ubas, 51; Kristopher Clyde Jimenez, 19, and Joel Abella, 47, all residents of the barangay.

According to a report forwarded by Naga City Police Station, the suspects were found watching an “online sabong” and were caught with betting money worth P2,734.

Further, the apprehended individuals reportedly resisted the arrest and disobeyed the officers.

The suspects are currently detained in Naga City Police Station waiting for the charges to be filed for violation of the Presidential Decree (PD) 1602 and Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code. —GMR (FREEMAN)