Cellphone thief found beheaded

A notorious cellphone snatcher was found stabbed and beheaded early yesterday morning in Project 3, Quezon City with two stolen mobile phones on his forehead.

The fatality was in his early thirties, about 5’7 in height and sporting several tattoos in his body. He sustained a stab wound in the neck, his throat was slit and his head decapitated.

The body was found dead by a certain Renato Paternal at around 2 a.m. along Batino Street, Barangay Duyan-duyan in Project 3, Quirino District. Sources said that the man could have been a leader of a cellphone-snatching syndicate.

Two stolen Trium brand mobile phones were found taped to his forehead.

Central Police District operatives said that the crime could have been the work of "professional assassins" or "vigilantes." However, police sources said policemen may have had a hand in the slay.

"I don’t want to put anybody in hot water, but I’m pretty sure that my fellow cops are the ones who did this," said one source, who requested anonymity. "In a way, this should serve as a lesson to all cellphone snatchers that crime doesn’t pay."

Authorities said that they are still conducting follow-up operations to determine the identity of the victim and those who beheaded him.