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Monday, August 18, 2003
Car theft suspect falls; PNP eyes more arrests
By Victor L. Camion
THE Dumaguete City police believe they will finally solve the series of motorcycle thefts hitting the community with the arrest last Thursday of a suspect linked to carnapping and other local crimes.
City Police Chief Constantino Barot, Jr., is optimistic that the arrest of Joseph Cinco, 17, a resident Sitio Kalubihan, Daro village will neutralize the operation of all carnappers, thieves, and others responsible for the series of crimes in Dumaguete City.
Sinco was arrested through a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Rogelio Carampatan, of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) for illegal possession of a firearm.
The suspect admitted in a live interview with local FM radio station dyGB that he was one of those involved in the series of motorcycle carnappings in the city.
He said before his arrest, he stole five motorcycles including a Suzuki X3 belonging to one Emilio Artiaga of San Antonio, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, which is now in the custody of the city police.
The unit, along with a Honda Dream, a sack of assorted motorcycle parts, and two tires, among others were recovered by police intelligence agents from Sinco's possession.
The suspect identified the mastermind of the motorcycle thefts as a certain Teofilo Callao of Batinguel and one Tomas Diputado of Sibulan, alleged buyers of stolen motorcycle parts.
"Di man sab ko mangawat kon walay order niya (I don't steal if I don't have orders from him)," he said.
Callao, 23, who was arrested following Sinco's confession, in the same interview strongly denied the teenager's allegations saying, "Wala man gani ko kaila ana niya (I don't even know him)."
Callao insisted that he was only ordered by his employer who he did not identify to buy a motorcycle from Sinco. He explained that Sinco offered to sell a motorcycle for P1,000 only.
Barot, however, said Sinco's statement was credible and that the young suspect did not hesitate to identify Callao and a certain Peter from the town of Mabinay as the brains behind the motorcycle thefts.
Moreover, Barot said Sinco revealed the said Peter gave him a cutter and other equipment to cut the motorcycle chain and other parts of the vehicle.
The police chief said Sinco has named other carnappers, to include six persons in the police list believed responsible for robberies, cellphone snatching, and other crimes in the city.
The PNP withheld the names for further investigation.
The police charged Sinco and Callao for carnapping before the City Prosecutors' Office.
(August 16, 2003 issue)
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