Caloocan cop hunted for theft of P.3-M fighting cocks

A Caloocan policeman is now the subject of a manhunt after he was tagged as the mastermind in the theft of fighting cocks worth at least a quarter of a million from its owners in Caloocan City.

Police Officer 2 Leonardo Martin, who is still at large, has been slapped with two counts of theft together with seven others earlier nabbed by intelligence personnel.

Assistant City Prosecutor Ferdinand Valbuena recommended a bail bond of P40,000 each for their temporary liberty.

Chief Inspector Crisencio Galvez, intelligence branch chief, identified Martin’s co-respondents as Cerilo Tulibao, Gerry Albao, Rey Villanueva, Roger Rustia, Rolly Suarez, Richard Rivera, all of Caloocan, and Francisco Vinacman of Navotas.

Complainants Jerome Mendoza and Rogelio Lee said they lost 42 fighting cocks worth at least P250,000. Only seven were recovered.

According to Galvez, his men accosted the seven suspects at 8:45 p.m. the other night along the C-3 Road. The suspects were in a green Mitsubishi Adventure (CSS-619), which was found to have expired registration papers so the group had been taken to the Caloocan police headquarters for further questioning.

The lawmen found seven fighting cocks stuffed inside a jute sack in the van, which the owners identified as part of the loot stolen the night before from their backyard farm in Bagong Silang.

The suspects verbally admitted they stole the cocks and identified Martin from a photo gallery as the brains behind the theft. – Jerry Botial