CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested an alleged carnapper who was seized with at least four cannibalized motorcycles in Barangay Tungkop, Minglanilla last Wednesday.
The suspect was Jesrich “JR†Arradaza, 26, a resident of Barangay Mohon, Talisay City.
Chief Insp. Aileen Recla, who heads City Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB), said Arradaza’s arrest stemmed from a tip they received from his alleged leader, Ybo Lastimosa.
Lastimosa, an alleged gun-for-hire of a druglord and is listed as the number four most wanted person of Police Regional Office 7, was arrested last Tuesday by virtue of a warrant of arrest for murder.
Recla said they conducted a follow up operation after one Maroibel Fuentes appeared at the IDMB office and reported her motorcycle, a black Honda XRM with plate numbers 8495 1O, was missing from her house in San Isidro, Talisay City.
IDMB, together with Waterfront Police Station personnel, then proceeded to Barangay San Roque where they arrested Lastimosa, who allegedly stole the motorcycle.
Police then implemented the warrant of arrest for murder against Lastimosa issued by Judge Estela Alma Singco of the Regional Trial Court Branch 12.
During interrogation, Lastimosa revealed that the victim’s motorcycle is in the possession of Arradaza.
With the Minglanilla Police this time, IDMB personnel raided Barangay Tungkop and arrested Arradaza.
Seized from the suspect were two black and red XRM motorcycles, bearing plate numbers GU 1369 and 5365 IQ, respectively. Police also recovered motorcycle parts such as body, engine, wheel, radiator, seat cover, muffler, U-box, and motorcycle accessories, among others.
Recla said carnappers particularly steal XRM motorcycles as these are easy to disassemble.
“Mas maayo pa lock-an na lang ninyo inyong mga motor. (It’s better if you lock your motorcycles),†the IDMB chief advised.
She said they are hunting down four other cohorts of Arradaza, whose names she is withholding pending follow up operation. Arradaza, who works as a shop mechanic, denied stealing the motorcycles and said that he is only in charge of disassembling them.
“Kung magmekaniko ko, mukita ko og P600 kada-adlaw pero kung mamungkag, mga P2,000 kada-adlaw. (If I work as a mechanic, I only get P600 a day. But if I disassemble them, I get P2,000 a day),†he claimed, further confirming that he’s been into the illegal activity for five months.
However, Arradaza was released yesterday since no complaint was lodged against him and the reglamentary period since his arrest has lapsed.
“Mao lagi ni nakapait kay ang mga biktima di na mukiha kay busy kuno sila, hasol na. Magdasa na hinuon ni sila. (This is the problem since victims don’t file cases anymore because they’re busy),†she lamented.
The victims have claimed the motorcycles. —/ATO (FREEMAN)