Habal-habal driver seizes yacht, arrested

CEBU, Philippines - An apparently mentally disturbed man seized Monday evening an P8-million yacht that had dropped anchor 100 meters away from the Looc wharf in Mandaue City and could have put the boat out to sea had it not malfunctioned.

Arrested was habal-habal driver Joel Cacha, 24, of barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.

Opao police station chief Sr./Insp Alexander Nuñez said the yacht is owned by one Rey Sanchez who is in Manila.

At around 11 p.m., ship captain Panfilo dela Cruz left the yacht on a small boat to go ashore, leaving the yacht under the care of an assistant.

Cruz reached the shore and got off the boat. A little later, Cacha got into the same boat and rowed toward the yacht.

As Cacha boarded the yacht, the caretaker went down to the same small boat and rowed toward shore, screaming at the top of his voice to get Cruz’s attention and to fetch him.

Before Cruz and his assistant could reach the yacht, they heard the yacht’s engine already starting.

But a few minutes later, the engine conked out.

It was found out later that a piece of rope had gotten entangled with the propeller.

Cruz tried to dissuade Cacha from proceeding with his plans.

Where was he going? Cruz asked Cacha.

When Cacha said “Manila,” Cruz immediately knew the man was unwell.

Cacha is now detained at the Opao police station.  (FREEMAN)