North Cotabato cops hunt down motorcycle thieves

NORTH COTABATO - The provincial police on Wednesday launched an extensive hunt against a group of motorcycle thieves operating in Kidapawan City and surrounding towns.

Senior Inspector Ramel Hojilla, spokesman of the provincial police office, said the group led by a certain “Mas,” is comprised of notorious thieves from Datu Piang town in Maguindanao.

Eight members of the gang have been arrested in separate police operations in the province in the past three weeks.

The cashiered suspects, Wilfredo Navales Remonde, Khalid Shariff Usman, Basir Kabunsuwan, Weng Afdal, Nunuki Luay, Abubakar Pandian, and Habel Cuta Luay are now detained and awaiting prosecution.

Hojilla said police agents are now trying to locate the whereabouts of their cohorts, Roldan Arguis, Mike Valera and three others initially identified only as Bashir, Gaid and Haron.

Hojilla said they have been receiving persistent feedback from confidential informants that the suspects are also engaged in drug trafficking.