Police identified the suspect as Jerson Villavito, 30, of Tripa de Gallena, Pasay.
Initial investigation showed that Villavito was caught at around 1 a.m. along Bautista street in Barangay Palanan by two barangay tanods while he was taking a brief rest after dragging the heavy load.
Case investigator Police Officer (PO2) Raymund Bilgera said the suspect had already dragged the two-meter high No-Left Turn signage for about three blocks.
A block of cement was still around the bottom of the pole when police recovered the signage.
Bilgera said the suspect denied stealing the road sign.
"He claimed he took it only because it was already lying on the road and thought he could sell it," Bilgera said.
Bilgera said the suspect may be telling the truth as no digging instrument was found in Villavito’s possession or in the area where the signage had been installed.
The reflectorized sign and the lead pip cost P4,061 and could fetch a good price in junk shops, the police said.
According to Bilgera, the agency, represented by Bayani Batac, assistant commander of the MMDA-Makati Traffic Operations Center, will file a theft case against the suspect.
Villavito is now detained at the Makati police headquarters. – Nikko Dizon